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Students smoking smuggled smokes: Study
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| MarkT |
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/272684
| quote: | Nov 01, 2007 12:52 PM
THE CANADIAN PRESS
OTTAWA – Researchers who collected discarded cigarette butts from around Quebec and Ontario high schools say an "alarming" number of teenagers are smoking contraband tobacco.
The researchers, hired by the Canadian Convenience Stores Association, analyzed more than 11,000 cigarette butts taken from public grounds around 55 high schools in Ontario and 50 in Quebec.
They determined that in Ontario, 24 per cent of high-schoolers' cigarette butts were contraband, while in Quebec contraband made up 35 per cent of schoolyard butts.
"The rampant use of these contraband cigarettes is a growing problem across Canada," association president Dave Bryans said in a statement today. "We were absolutely shocked by the extent to which it is actually happening.
"There are clearly some very serious implications as a result of these findings."
The organization said illegal cigarettes are being imported and sold throughout Canada inexpensively and with no government oversight.
Although youth smoking rates are at an all-time low, the study said use of "cheap, easily accessible, unregulated and untaxed" contraband tobacco cigarettes is widespread among youth.
"Not only are these illegal cigarettes robbing the government of billions in tax revenue each year, but even more disconcerting is that no one knows what's really in these contraband cigarettes," said Bryans. "They're often made in illegal, unregulated factories and sold to kids out of the trunks of cars.
"This should be a serious wake-up call to youth smokers, their parents, police agencies and government officials alike."
The storeowners group said contraband cigarettes are being smuggled from as far away as China and tens of thousands of cartons are illegally sold in Canada each day.
And they come cheap, with a pack of 20 cigarettes often going for as little as $1, compared with $8 for government-taxed cigarettes.
"This all happens with absolutely no government inspection, testing, or review," said a statement from the storeowners.
Some other facts from the study by the independent research company, Arcus Group:
– 11,267 cigarette butts from around schools were collected, 5,457 in Ontario and 5,810 in Quebec.
– In Ontario, the highest incidences of contraband were in Newmarket and Aurora, at 50 and 47 per cent respectively, while Burlington and Oakville had the lowest, at nine and eight per cent.
– In Quebec, the highest incidences of contraband were in Anjou and Cote-des-Neiges at 74 and 60 per cent respectively, while St-Michel and Greenfield Park had the lowest at 12 and 18 per cent.
– Half the municipalities or regions surveyed – 22 of 44 – exceeded a 30 per cent share of illegal cigarette butts, while 11 municipalities had over 40 per cent illegal cigarette butts. |
anyone else amused at the hypocrisy of calling out the "safety" of unregulated cigarettes by the head of a store association whose members' businesses live and die by cigarette sales?
I also suppose that smokers actually know what's in store-bought, gov't-regulated cigarettes? and store bought ones are necessarily more "safe"? safe is pretty ing relative when you're talking about known carcinogenic items, lol.
ing tools. Just come out and say that you're upset at all the lost revenue your store owners are realizing from the black market and then STFU. pretending to give one about people's health (or gov't revenue) is just pathetic.
:rolleyes: x 100 |
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| DigiNut |
"Robbing the government". Rewfles.
:stongue: |
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| DJ Eterno |
| dont really see it as anything that can be stopped. i hear that marijuana isn't lagalized yet because law enforcement cant regulate use. once the police have a solid method of knowing whether your high or not then it will be legalized... anyone heard this as well or is it just me? |
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| infinity HiGH |
| quote: | Originally posted by DigiNut
"Robbing the government". Rewfles.
:stongue: |
Oh noes! What ever will they do?! |
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| RobotHouse |
| the contraband smokes are probably better for you. in relative terms of course lol |
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| Binder_Dundat |
| I don't smoke anymore but for a buck a pack I kinda wanna start again. |
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| Zentac_75 |
it's only a matter of time (months if not year) before smoke prices decrease again. There are so many laws againsts it. Next year gas stations/convenient stores won't be able to display that they even sell cigarettes (the packs behind the counter will have to be behind a curtain) because by law displaying the packs is considered a form of advertising or some junk like that.
Demand WILL decrease with time, hence the price will decrease in an attempt to stimulate the market. |
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| zokissima |
| quote: | Originally posted by MarkT
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/272684
anyone else amused at the hypocrisy of calling out the "safety" of unregulated cigarettes by the head of a store association whose members' businesses live and die by cigarette sales?
I also suppose that smokers actually know what's in store-bought, gov't-regulated cigarettes? and store bought ones are necessarily more "safe"? safe is pretty ing relative when you're talking about known carcinogenic items, lol.
ing tools. Just come out and say that you're upset at all the lost revenue your store owners are realizing from the black market and then STFU. pretending to give one about people's health (or gov't revenue) is just pathetic.
:rolleyes: x 100 |
+ 1237029834792475092387429387459283 |
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| FunkyCrew |
| what exactly are contraband cigs? if I buy 2 blocks of 10 packs in duty free, and sell 5 of them, does it mean I'm selling contraband goods? |
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| ChemEnhanced |
| whats even funnier is that they collected butts from highschools....where the majority of people are not even old enough to buy cigarettes |
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| Dr. DAS |
| quote: | Originally posted by DigiNut
"Robbing the government". Rewfles.
:stongue: |
Cheating the cheaters...I likes. |
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| The Highroller |
| quote: | Originally posted by Zentac_75
it's only a matter of time (months if not year) before smoke prices decrease again. There are so many laws againsts it. Next year gas stations/convenient stores won't be able to display that they even sell cigarettes (the packs behind the counter will have to be behind a curtain) because by law displaying the packs is considered a form of advertising or some junk like that.
Demand WILL decrease with time, hence the price will decrease in an attempt to stimulate the market. |
Umm, not really. If anything, the prices will increase due to something we call "taxes". |
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