Pubs urged to aid crackdown on illegal cigarette sales
As part of the Keep It Out campaign, 7,500 pubs in “problem areas” will be sent a pack containing information about illegal tobacco, a window sticker to encourage conversations with the community, and beer mats.
A study by Tobacco Free Futures, a collaborative programme funded by Directors of Public Health in the North West, found that illegal tobacco dealers are making it easy for children and young people to smoke. The research questioned 4,111 people.
Half of the tobacco bought by 14-year-olds is illegal, compared to 36% by adults, and one in four young smokers regularly gets offered illegal tobacco, the research found.
Tobacco Free Futures said that dealers target children and young people by selling them single cigarettes, which makes it more affordable for them and gets them hooked so that they come back for more.
Illegal tobacco is also linked to low-level and large-scale organised crime, so it helps fund drugs and weapon smuggling, child exploitation and money laundering.
Tobacco Free Futures director Andrea Crossfield said: “Illegal tobacco makes it easier for children to get hold of cigarettes and helps to get them hooked into a deadly addiction to tobacco. The Keep It Out campaign is a way of letting concerned parents and community members know that they can take action and do something about this.”
HM Revenues and Customs (HMRC) assistant director criminal investigation Mike O’Grady added: “Tobacco fraud is estimated to cost the taxpayer over £2 billion per year in lost revenues, money that could otherwise be used to fund key public services. HMRC supports this campaign and will continue to work closely with other agencies to tackle tobacco smuggling at street level and to protect legitimate businesses from the impact of the illicit trade.”
Counterfeit
A licensee in Stoke-on-Trent has been stripped of his license after being found in possession of illegal tobacco, alcohol and counterfeit clothing.
Geoffrey Davis of the Grays Corner had more than 7,600 cigarettes, 55 kilos of hand rolling tobacco, 110 litres of wine and 69 litres of spirits. All were non-duty paid, and breached food labelling and tobacco safety regulations.
It is the largest seizure made in Stoke-on-Trent during joint inspections by Trading Standards and Her Majesties Revenues and Customs.
