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Teenagers can buy 200 illegal cigarettes for as little as $6, compared to approximately $60 for 200 legal cigarettes
Jump to full article: National Post (ca), 2009-02-24
Author: Benjamin Kemball is president and CEO, Imperial Tobacco Canada.
Intro: It is a rare thing when the tobacco control community and the tobacco industry are on the same side of an issue. When it does happen, governments should take notice. This illegal trade not only robs Canadians of government revenue, it undermines tobacco control initiatives, exposing children to cheap cigarettes and allowing organized crime to cash in.
The numbers are alarming: 13 billion illegal cigarettes were sold in Canada in 2008; nearly 50% of all cigarettes purchased in Ontario are illegal; 40% of cigarettes purchased in Quebec are illegal; Organized crime is making hundreds of millions of dollars in profits.
There are social costs as well. Illegal cigarettes are falling into the hands of young people. . . .
We believe this trade must be stopped and we have offered our full resources to government to help in this fight. In doing so, we make a simple plea to governments and the public at large: In these times of economic crisis, if you do not like the messenger, at least listen to the message.
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