Documentary on Black Market Tobacco in Australia

[luckme10]

 

[PapaDisco]

That's the thing: regulation is not without limit.  At some point you raise prices enough to encourage piracy and bootlegging.  But a bunch of lawyers in the legislature wouldn't know that . . .    

[mt1]

Yeah well, smoking is bad mmmkay.

[JR Kipling]

Two adults decide to engage in voluntary trade that they deem mutually beneficial. A pirate with a gun forces them to pay him for the ‘privilege’ of doing so. (Any excuse can be used by the pirate for his robbery. Ultimately, it always comes down to the underlying threat of physical violence if one does not comply.) Unlike the pirate, government robbers have very good propaganda machines. They actually convince their victims that it’s good to be robbed. Thus, use of terms like ‘black market ‘ when in reality it’s a free market.

[LLC]

People would not mind paying their fair share of taxes but when you ask to bend over and take it up the *** you will find a way to avoid it.

This has also been a huge problem in Canada. I don’t smoke cigarettes but fully understand the people that do this.


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[Doctorossi]

2 hours ago, LLC said:

This has also been a huge problem in Canada. I don’t smoke cigarettes but fully understand the people that do this.

And one doesn't have to smoke cigarettes to be overwhelmed by the sticker shock of Canadian tobacco tariffs.   

Sadly, I really can't even imagine purchasing a cigar in Canada any more and I feel for the Canadian retailers who've lost my business through no fault of their own.

[JR Kipling]

It’s always about money, power, and their job security . Does anyone actually believe some government bureaucrat or politician gives a damn about the health of the faceless (to them) masses ?  

In some places in the US, tobacco is taxed at nearly 100%. In the meantime, there are pot shops in every podunk town and larger city. The key to the theft is to tax and ban what the Other guy likes. As the old saying goes, ‘Democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for lunch.’

[Hookmaker]

Well in Norway thy seem to have succeeded. Tobacco prices are the craziest in the world and very very few young people start smoking. A lot of black market tobacco aside. Pretty convincing that the higher the price the fewer the smokers.

[Freddo]

From what I can see it's government revenue raising.

You can only reduce the smoking rate up to a point then it's all black market/substitute.

[SokaKiel]

 I have no idea about black market cigarettes but keep wondering about all the “black market” private cigar dealers on Instagram and FB. Met a few guys doing this on the side during my multiple trips to Aus last year when catching up with people for a smoke.

No idea how they expect to stay under the tax mans radar for a long time! They usually order boxes from Europe and then sell them on through Instagram or FB. They’re leaving a money trail (credit card, PayPal etc.) and emails or DM’s. How do they expect not to get caught after a while! Especially as they don’t have the means and the network of Mafia style organizations that run the black market cigarettes?!

I can understand the temptation of making a quick buck but wouldn’t try to take on the Australian Customs, they’re like blood hounds tracking down the illegal shipments...

Fingers crossed Japan doesn’t change any time soon. Neither big Amazon orders from the US or cigars from Rob get picked out by them so far!

[hedgeybaby]

On 7/11/2018 at 3:06 AM, JR Kipling said:

Thus, use of terms like ‘black market ‘ when in reality it’s a free market.

Correct 

[Auspaul]

The contempt of politicians in Australia is beyond comprehension will never forget hearing the age of entitlement is over and then seeing  Cuban cigars being smoked . By the same people who are saying what a terrible  situation we are in. https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/treasurer-joe-hockey-heres-a-political-guide-to-cigar-smoking-in-public-20140511-zr9hi.html