SIR: Sweden's recent decision to reduce its rate of cigarette taxation by 27pc to counter the ever increasing trade in cross-border tobacco smuggling, is one that should be followed by the British Government.
Increasing cigarette taxation encourages more adult smokers to buy smuggled cigarettes and makes it easier for children to get them from the black market.
Our Government should take a leaf out of Sweden's book and follow suit. Not only does increased cigarette taxation help smugglers line their pockets, but it costs our exchequer millions in lost revenue.
It is time for our Government to act in the face of a mounting smuggling problem. Reduce taxation and scrub the proposed increase scheduled for December.
V Winterbottom,
Greater
Manchester,
Lancashire and Cheshire
Fair Cigarette
Tax Campaign
Mount Drive
Urmston, Manchester?
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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