Philip Morris International UK Report: Half Of London Stores Sell Illegal E-cigarettes, Illegal Trade in Scotland Increases 20% Year-on-year

Philip Morris International UK report: Half of London stores sell illegal e-cigarettes, illegal trade in Scotland increases 20% year-on-year

According to a survey by Philip Morris International, the UK ranks third in Europe for illegal tobacco consumption, with illegal tobacco and e-cigarette trade increasing in 11 of the 12 regions, including a 20% increase in Scotland. In addition, more than half of London stores were found to be selling illegal tobacco and e-cigarettes.

 

According to a report by Daily Star on September 27, Philip Morris Limited (PML) commissioned KAM to investigate the illegal market in the UK. Illegal trade increased in 11 of the 12 regions compared with last year, including Scotland, which increased by 20% in just one year, and Northern Ireland and southeast England, with increases of 15.9% and 14.5% respectively.

 

In addition, the UK ranks third among 38 European countries, becoming the country with the highest illegal tobacco consumption.

 

The report revealed that the cost of living crisis is an important factor in this problem, and half of the shop owners said that economic difficulties and the demand for cheap products are driving factors for illegal use.

 

In a recent two-day raid, more than half of London stores were found to be selling illegal cigarettes and e-cigarettes. The operation is being led by former Scotland Yard detective chief Will O'Reilly, who said eliminating the illegal cigarette market alone would deprive organised crime of the equivalent of funding more than 115,000 new police officers.

 

The survey showed that 52% of retailers were concerned that higher taxes on legal products could drive the growth of the illegal market. Similarly, 44% were concerned that restrictive rules on legal alternatives could inadvertently increase such activity.

 

Respondents also expressed support for efforts to crack down on illegal products, demonstrating a commitment by only buying from legal channels and reporting illegal activity. Despite this, 40% were sceptical that illegal use would be reduced by 2030, the goal for a smoke-free England.

 

70% of respondents would like to see stronger enforcement, and 75% supported tougher penalties for offenders. Meanwhile, 71% wanted easier access to legal and affordable smoke-free alternatives, such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

 

PML's director of external affairs, Duncan Cunningham, warned that rates of use among teenagers were particularly worrying.

 

"The illegal tobacco and e-cigarette trade poses a direct and serious threat to public health, harming poor communities and driving youth use. Given that the UK is already one of the largest illegal cigarette markets in Europe, we must strike a careful balance: protecting people, especially young people, from harmful illegal products, while ensuring adult smokers have access to smoke-free alternatives."

 

"To achieve a truly smoke-free future, we must protect the next generation and support the UK's 6.4 million adult smokers to switch to smoke-free alternatives by maintaining access to existing alternatives."