Like it not, I will use the US currency for the price of a packet of 20 fags from around the world.
US, $8 to $12
UK, $15 to $18
France, $12 to $14
Japan, $4 to $6
Indonesia $2 to $4
Portugal $6 to $7
Australia, $28 to $35
As you can note, cigarettes are very expensive in Australia and over 70% of the cost is government taxes, that increase often and has acted as a disincentive to smoking, a good thing. Australia's rate of smoking is around 10% of the adult population is one of the lowest in the world.
That is until the illegally imported cigarettes arrived that sell for around US$9, which is close to what the rest of the world pays.
That came the stand over tactics, 'buy our illegal cigarette or you business will be firebombed', and mayhem arrived, with many many outlets firebombed, with flats often in the same building.
The sale of vapes has been banned unless by doctor's prescription, yet vapes are readily available in the cigarette shops that sell illegal cigarettes.
It is a protection racket, which has now extended to nail salons, dance club venues, gyms, and new car businesses, one close to the dealership where I bought my car.
Let me draw a parallel. Extortion at cigarette shops that sold illegal cigarettes and vapes was ignored by governments, just as cops ignored manic ebike and electric scooter riders speeding along footpaths. Eventually authorities were forced into action, but had they clamped down on all before they became so big, Australia would be a better and more law abiding place.
The illegal cigarettes come in by container load from China and the Middle East, the latter via Singapore, I believe. I've seen and in a minor manner used AI. Surely can't technology detect the illegal cigarettes?
At best I suggest there has been a lack of political will, at worst, some very powerful people, and I don't mean gangs, have a vested interest.
This is mayhem that has never been seen before in my lifetime. Changing your vote on polling day will make no difference. A chilling statistic is in Victoria, nearly all Melbourne based, between mid year 2024 and mid year 2026, there has been 300 fire bombings, a shocking statistic.
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Is your pricing correct? I think legal cigarettes, packet of 20 is way more in Australia, more like $75 a packet
ReplyDeleteHere in Terrigal, NSW Coast - in the Supermarkets
Deletethe cost ranges from $45 to $55.
At the so called Smoke Shops - $10.
Colin
Andrew is using USD for the purposes of comparison. Maybe the lower number he gives for AU is a bit low.
DeleteSupermarket list today, one packet of 20 for AU$42, US$30.
DeleteLike I said. Thanks for the follow-up research!
DeleteIllegal cigarettes come in through our borders. Those that work on the wharves and airports need to do the job they are being paid for by the government and shipping agencies , not working for the criminals . It is the same way guns and other illegal weapons are coming in. The Commonwealth Government needs to step up surveillance on entry points. Most of the trade is conducted by Middle eastern gangsters often living over seas.
ReplyDeleteThere are many illegal smoke shops that state governments have turned a blind eye to. The Sa government had a purge last year, but then closed their eyes again.
For many years there were "ethnic" smuggled cigarettes but out of caution on the part of the retailer these were generally only offered to purchasers of the relevant ethnic group. At some point, it became much more flagrant.
DeleteI bet Colesworth can tell you from their figures when this happened. As the tax became so much bigger the incentive to get around became greater.
I also wonder if another factor in the proliferation of dodgy smoke shops was the decline of other "bricks and mortar" shops in the face of the growth of online trading generally.
Yes Anon. Correct.
DeleteNow you mention it MC, I remember many at work smoking overseas cigarettes. Early stages of illegal imports, 333.
Delete333 must be a subcontinental thing. Amongst the Chinese the equivalent was 555. Both originally brands from Nigella Lawson's forebears' Ardath Tobacco Company.
DeleteVietnamese, I believe. Interesting trivia about Ms Lawson. I know about her father being a Tory politician. Do you remember the advertising song for Ardath? Ardath, Ardath, you're a star. Beats the other.....I can't remember any more.
DeleteSong is before my time. Or maybe we just never listened to commercial radio. Just ABC radio in my childhood, and we didn't have a TV at all.
DeleteThere has been talk about reducing the excise on cigarettes to bring the price in line with the illegal ones hence, in theory, reducing the demand on the chop chops shops. But as the excise is one of the highest sources of income for the governments (even though the money is meant to be going to health and health education) I can't see them doing that in the near future.
ReplyDeleteFrom a legal perspective, if the magistrates that dole out the sentences actually gave the fire bombers (often teenage gang members) more than a slap on the wrist that may help in reducing the re-offending - but again, I can't see that happening in the near future either.
Merlot, if you steal $500 from a bank, you will be in gaol. If you smash up a stolen car worth $50,000, a slap on the wrist. Real effort needs to be put into support for former prisoners as has been done successfully in Europe, but kids and adults need to receive appropriate gaol time for their crimes.
DeleteWe have had our share of fire-bombings too, some places get bombed two or more times until they give up and leave because they can't afford to rebuild. I agree there's a lack of political will and also that police actions on these illegal imports is too little too late.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't aware that you have the same problems in your city, River.
DeleteIt's every city, crime and money go hand in hand.
DeleteIt seems someone or several people of 'note' are taking a handout to get those fags here in Australia, they have to be as I don't understand how they can get through out customs - it's got me beat.
ReplyDeleteHere down in Kings Meadows there is a 'Gift Shop' and they sell illegal fags, and the people that come and go it's unbelievable, so many - we see them as we wait for the lights to change. I believe they pay their fines and are back at it with the door wide open again. No war here as yet!
Margaret, I think it is the sheer volume of containers that enter Australia, and this is where some high tech solutions could happen.
DeleteThe shops selling illegal cigarettes and vapes need to be closed down, not just fined. NSW has given public officials to do so. Victoria is about to do so.
I'm surprised by those firebombing statistics. Among everything else, don't tell me we in the US are now importing organized crime to the rest of the world!
ReplyDeleteKirk, I don't blame the US. This is homegrown but perhaps modus operando has been learnt from elsewhere.
DeleteI had no idea. Sorry you're dealing with this. Andrew. But the e-bikes unicycles skateboards hoverboards whatever they are are everywhere and it's very daunting to be a pedestrian these days. I'm always super careful but no fire balmings fortunately. Amazing that would be allowed to get so far out of hand. Shocking. In fact, after a huge accident in a residential area that killed and injured several people on New Year's Eve Hawaii's infatuation with illegal fireworks is finally being cracked down on. Stay safe my friend. Let's cherish as much of this life as we get. Aloha!
ReplyDeleteCloudia, I don't know about the fireworks event, but it sounds horrific. Illegal fireworks are a problem here too. They are already banned here and in your state, but how to control internet based orders of fireworks?
DeleteSmoking in the US is below 10% of the adult population for the first time in 100 years, and we should raise the tax even more.
ReplyDeleteTP, that's good to learn. I thought it would have been higher.
DeleteI'm glad that I don't smoke.
ReplyDeleteWhat a dangerous mess that is, Andrew.
Very dangerous, Pat. Slow progress is being made.
DeleteI must admit that your fire bombing numbers was dumbfounding to me. Here, we have vape shops everywhere. They did a sting. 100% of those shops were selling Marijuana vapes under the counter. Pot is still illegal here but completely legal on the neighboring Indian reservation.
ReplyDeleteDebby, I didn't know marijuana vapes existed. No doubt I'll hear about them here soon.
DeleteYou are correct Andrew in your assumption. We saw who profited in Canada in the sales of liquor in prohibition days. Here in Canada, the illegal cigarette sales are attributed to First Nations Reservations. Not so. Follow the money on all of these rackets and someone - or many - up high are taking a cut.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
WWW, why should I be surprised at that!
DeleteI'm grateful that I never picked up smoking. My deterrent was lifelong asthma. lol Be well!
ReplyDeleteNever ever smoked.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know there was a protection racket around illegal cigs and vapes. Like the mob. The ebike and scooter controversies here are getting bigger. People ride them on streets like personal rocketships, ignoring all laws. Then family members scream and wail when their illegal rider family member is killed running red lights and going 40 in a 25 zone. Largely they are ignored by law enforcement even though the laws about where and how fast they can legally travel is well published. I am about to embark right into this. My brother sent me a foldable electric bike, which I have not yet riden, due to my history here, where even classic peddle bikes are dangerous. I was run off the road not long after I moved here by a pickup full of laughing young men, who, when I ended up crashed in the ditch, did not help, just laughed. I haven't been on a bike since.
ReplyDeleteWow, that DOES sound dangerous. I know government taxes make up the bulk of the cost of a pack of cigarettes, and rightly so, and I know there's a thriving black market. But I didn't know there were firebombings and protection rackets surrounding it. Seems like law enforcement could do something about this. As you said, modern technology can surely detect smuggled cigarettes?
ReplyDeleteI guess in Belgium cigarettes costs 12 $. Before it was half price. But people still smoke the same quantities. They always find a way to find cigarettes cheaper. A real smoker would smoke even if one cigarette costs 10 $ ! to stop he has to stop by himself. Increasing prices doesn't help, it only improves the black market ! That's like the time where the alcohol was forbidden in the 20th or if you are allowed to buy alcohol only from 18 of 21 years old. That's easy you ask a homeless or an older brother to buy the stuff. Politicians probably know it because they did the same in their youth ! I also smoked and liked my glass(es) of wine and then one day I stopped looooong time ago !
ReplyDeleteBut that was my decision.
I have never smoked.
ReplyDelete