Anti-illicit survey finds 71% of smokers buying untaxed tobacco [UK]
From: BetterRetailing.com
Nearly three-quarters of smokers buy tobacco from sources other than shops, with London, the south-east and the north-west of England the UK’s worst affected areas for non-duty-paid tobacco.
According to a survey of 12,000 smokers around the country, 71% of people who smoke buy cigarettes or rolling tobacco from places other than shops, either legally such as their holiday abroad or the internet, or illegally through car boot sales, vans or people on the street.
The highest proportion of sales of untaxed tobacco are in London (15%), the South East (15%) and the North West (11%), accounting for around 41% of an estimated £2.1bn loss in tax revenue to the Government.
