Root of the problem is illegal trade

SEVERAL parties have proposed that to curb the sale of illicit cigarettes and reduce the prevalence of illicit trade in the country, retailers should be required to have a special licence to sell cigarettes. The rationale is that if sellers are licensed, only bona fide legal sales would happen and those caught selling contraband would not only be punished but their right to sell would also be revoked.

In the midst of the debate over the reintroduction of small cigarette packs, parties that have opposed this proposed solution are turning their attention to the sellers. There is no doubt that retailers, seeing what is happening in the market, support the reintroduction of the small packs as a measure to close the price gap between legal and contraband cigarettes. The wide price gap has been the reason for the burgeoning illicit trade in the country as smokers shifted in droves from legal to illegal products. It is also the reason why the smoking rates have remained high.