From: The Province
According to a study commissioned by tobacco retailers, illegal tobacco is being consumed at high rates in many B.C. schools and other community sites where youth congregate.
The study, commissioned by the Western Convenience Store Association, examined discarded cigarette butts at 48 locations in B.C., to compare the rates of legal and contraband tobacco found in the areas. The average rate of illegal tobacco used at the study sites was 17 per cent, and as high as 51.6 per cent.
According to the study, notable findings included contraband tobacco rates of 23.5 per cent outside Prince Rupert city hall, 51.6 per cent at Simon Fraser University, 46.8 per cent at the University of B.C. and 24.1 per cent at Tamanawis Secondary School in Surrey.
