Anti-Smoking Charity Hit Out At 'Illicit' Tobacco Trade

The World Health Organisation has designated today World No Tobacco Day.

Ash Scotland is using the oppotunity to slam tobacco companies for filing lawsuits against countries which are trying to introduce plain packaging. The anti-smoking group says the firms are arguing that plain packets will lead to a rise in illicit tobacco.

In April with cross-party support, ASH Scotland launched a Children's Charter with six principles aimed at defending children's rights against tobacco and the industry that promotes it.

Sheila Duffy Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said:
 
"Illicit tobacco is a real problem - it undercuts retail prices and evades legal requirements, and the profits often fund serious organised crime. The real solution to illicit tobacco lies in strong enforcement action against this illegal activity.
 
"However tobacco companies consistently roll out illicit tobacco as a claimed argument against proven health measures such as increased tobacco taxes and plain packaging. They suggest without a shred of evidence that these health measures will somehow result in an increase in smuggled tobacco, although no connection has ever been demonstrated anywhere. In Australia, which was the world's first nation to introduce standardised tobacco packaging in 2012, there has been no increase in smuggled tobacco and only a tiny fraction of the illicit tobacco seized has been in plain packs."