Queensland crackdown cuts illicit tobacco and vape shops, but black market adapts
Queensland's crackdown on illicit tobacco and vape shops has temporarily reduced sales, but the black market is adapting by moving online and diversifying into new locations.Summary
Queensland Health has issued 275 closure orders against retailers selling illicit tobacco and vapes since November, resulting in a "marked difference" in availability according to public health researchers. However, the convenience store sector warns that the black market is adapting beyond the shop front, with retailers moving online and diversifying into new locations such as hairdressers and tyre shops. The Australian Association of Convenience Stores reports that legal tobacco sales have plummeted to around 18 per cent of total in-store sales, down from 40 per cent, due to the rising tobacco excise which makes illicit cigarettes up to five times cheaper. The association argues that the federal government needs to reduce excise by 50 per cent to make legal tobacco affordable, while public health researchers caution that cutting excise would simply move people from one harmful product to another. Queensland's laws have made a "significant difference" but more time is needed to understand the longer-term impact.
(Source：Google News)
