Retailers will soon need a license to sell cigarettes. But more needed to beat illegal trade

Dub “”Tobacco wars“Illegal trade is allegedly in Australia in illegal tobacco products.

Some people see these low-cost cigarettes buying money. But as this week's A BC Four corners Reported, with it, locally it involves an incredible price Fire bombFor, for, for,. MassacreFor, for, for,. Serious crimes Provided by illegal sales and funded by A The loss of the government's significant financial support For community services.

In all Australian states and regions, retail shops will need a license to sell cigarettes already or soon.

But there Are not restrictions On the variety of licensed shops.

And shows our latest research The number of smokersWith doubts of organized crime.

How many Australians do you smoke?

Australia has been the leader of tobacco control: Introducing easy packaging, stopping for many types of tobacco promoting and promoting, and organising High rates of tax People, especially young people, discourage to purchase tobacco.

These measures have helped reduce smoking in a single in ten.

But using tobacco continues to be a The most important cause of prevention disease In Australia.

Research suggests individuals who live in these areas A number of tobacco retailers Smoking is more likely. The variety of tobacco retailers can reduce the value through maximum competition and make smoking harder.

The variety of tobacco retailers is higher within the backward areas of Australia than in the rich areas.

Some smokers still goal children

Australian government Recognizes the need To reduce the supply of tobacco.

However, when We reviewed tobacco control rules Throughout Australia, we found that there are not any restrictions on the variety of tobacco retailers or where they’ll work. This increases the challenge of monitoring them.

There are also minimal restrictions on the kinds of retailers that may sell tobacco, or which other product specialist can sell tobaccoists. People under the age of 18 are also allowed to enter expert smokers without supervision of adults.

Because of this Examples Such as toy stores that sell tobacco, and display smoking toys that include toys and promote confectionery. Some Australian smokers have even painted their shop front in children Cartoon characters.

This makes it easier to purchase tobacco and it looks like an addiction, a “ordinary” consumer product, relatively than a deadly substance.

Retailers require a license – but they are usually not limited

Crimes related to To sell illegally unintended tobacco About 2018, 2018 increased substantially. The variety of smoking stores has also increased. Between July 2022 and June 2023, we guess that Queensland had the variety of smokers Stood up to 18.5 %.

Without a tobacco retailer licensing, regulators would not have the right record of who’s selling tobacco, where it’s being sold they usually have fewer options to cope with law -breaking retailers.

Three most populous states (77 % of the Australian population represent) Tobacco retailer is not a licensing scheme Recently (Queensland, September 2024) or currently setting a scheme (Victoria and New South Wales). There were already licensing schemes in all other states and regions.

But like all of the states and regions of the present license schemes, NSW or Victoria has neither met the variety of licenses that can be issued.

Recommended restrictions on the number and locations of tobacco licenses Victorian Public Accounts and Estimates Committee In response to vaporing and tobacco control investigations, but it surely was not adopted.

Retailers must adapt to low sales of tobacco

Removing operators from the tobacco retail sector, which is selling illegal products illegally, may be very necessary to cut back illegal tobacco trade and its associated violence.

Something Smoking Has described misery of their business as some consumers have transformed into buying products illegally provided illegally. This has reduced their trade capability.

However, Tobacco sales have decreased For a few years because adults are quitting smoking and fewer youth is starting. When the Australian government reaches lower than 5 % of the population its next goal, tobacco sales can be lower than that.

Retailers should be prepared prepared to cut back their tobacco sales as Australians have low smoking. They can also need the federal government Support for adaptation Their business. This may include suggestions about alternative services and products, or financial support to exit the industry, as was offered to tobacco farmers within the Nineties.

An extended -term alternative to tobacco retailer

In the long run, further improvements are needed to cope with the fundamental problems arising from retail stores which have tobacco selling tobacco products as industrial products.

Have an option Rules like pharmaceutical Tobacco will be sure that anyone who buys it’s in regards to the dangers and suggestions of leave it.

There is another choice Non -profit supplyAs has been used Supply of hemp In other countries. This will provide tobacco by non -profit businesses. Commercial tobacco firms will now not be involved in marketing or promoting these products.

Increase access to Free help to quit smoking There must also be a priority. Over 70 % of the smokers Like to leave Within the subsequent one to 2 years. They needs to be supported to achieve this.