Smokers have been warned to prepare to pay upto R200 for a box of cigarettes, as government looks set to extend the sales ban on alcohol and cigarettes beyond Level 4. | Day57ofLockdown
This is according to Free Market Foundation chief officer, Leon Louw, who said talk of the Covid-19 pandemic being around for the next few months could mean smokers should prepare to pay up to R20 for a cigarette or R200 per box in the black market for months to come.
"As at the end of April, Treasury has lost in excess of R300m in excise duty from tobacco products, the illicit trade has been handed the market on a plate and is charging extortionate prices. People have not stopped smoking. Government has turned 11 million smokers into criminals overnight," he said. "The future looks bleak for the legitimate industry including all of the informal traders and small retailers who rely on tobacco sales to make a living.
According to Louw, the government has yet to provide evidence to suggest smoking has any impact on Covid-19.
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