Japan Cigarette International disclosed that illegal cigarettes and vapes are widespread in the UK, and some vape brands smoke as often as 15,000 times, more than 25 times the legal limit. The JTI called on the government to focus on the illegal cigarette trade instead of banning inter-generations.
Day Tobacco International UK survey: illegal sales of vapes rife in Leeds
As reported by Convenience Store on 11 November. JTI Leeds conducted an undercover survey that exposed the prevalence of illegal cigarettes and vapes in the area. Among the 18 stores surveyed, 43 illegal items were found.
Twelve of the stores are in the constituency of Leeds West and Putz, the seat of the Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer. During the operation, staff did not have difficulty buying illegal vapes, obtaining a total of eight products, including one that had been smoked up to 15,000 times, more than 25 times the legal limit.
Governments should focus on illegal trade rather than intergenerational bans
Twelve packs of illegal tobacco and 23 packs of 50-gram illegal hand-rolled cigarettes were also purchased. The average price of illegal tobacco on that day was $5, the highest price was $7, and the retail price of the lowest JTI tobacco was $12.75.
Notably, nine of the 18 stores were found to be selling illegal cigarette products last year. Since 2022, the JTI has identified 59 retailers selling illegal cigarettes or vapes in Leeds and has referred all evidence to Trading Standards.
Ian Howell, UK’s director of public affairs, said,
- “Third, our covert operations have revealed the stark reality of the trade in illegal cigarettes and vapes in the UK. The proliferation of illegal products is the plight of our streets, increasingly open. The government needs to take this issue much more seriously, especially when figures show that twice as much money is spent on illicit cigarettes in the UK as on illicit drugs.”
Howell also added that the government should focus on the illegal trade rather than the intergenerational ban on smoking, as the latter would only exacerbate the black market trade.
- “The government should be committed to removing illegal goods from the streets and supporting honest retailers, not imposing unrealistic smoking bans,” he said.
