One in five retailers "faces closure" over smuggled tobacco

Pressure group Retailers Against Smuggling polled 16,000 independent retailers on the problem of tobacco smuggling and how it affects their business:

• Some 38% of retailers said they had considered closing their business as a result of tobacco smuggling, up from last year’s 34%, while 20% said they were still considering closing.

• More than one-third (36%) said they had considered cutting staff numbers, up from 33% last year.

• Nearly a quarter (25%) reported a “dramatic decrease” in tobacco sales as a result of smuggling, while 82% said smuggling had hit their tobacco sales (up from 77% last year).

• Seven out of ten were “very concerned” about the effects of cross border shopping and smuggled tobacco goods.

• The same number were aware of tobacco products being sold illegally in their area, while 37% said they, or someone they know, had been offered smuggled goods.

• More than nine out of 10 (91%) thought the government was not doing enough to help retailers affected by smuggling.

According to research carried out by Independent Retail News – Talking Retail’s sister magazine – the average independent retailer loses about £20,000 a year in sales as a result of tobacco smuggling.

What do you think?
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