Tobacco taxes only encourage the smugglers

I WRITE in response to the article “Call for Budget tax hike to target smokers” (The Yorkshire Post, March 12) and the subsequent follow up “Smoke screen on smuggling” (The Yorkshire Post, March 18).

The paper regularly highlights the problem of illicit tobacco in our area and it is a problem that is getting worse. Statistics from HM Revenue & Customs in “Measuring Tax Gaps – 2013” published in October back this up.

Everyone now agrees that the illicit market is growing. By hiking the amount of taxes on tobacco you will simply drive smokers to this already flourishing underground market. The UK packaging industry believes that a policy of plain packaging for tobacco products would exacerbate this problem. You can put all the security features you like on any packs but the illicit trade will sell smuggled, counterfeit or any product they can get to all potential purchasers including the young and the vulnerable who need protecting.

The fact is that illicit tobacco is growing in the UK, the Irish Republic and Australia and plain packaging will make the problem worse.