SHOCKING!
SEE THE EFFECT OF AN INADEQUATE HKG EXCISE TAX RISE ON TOBACCO IN 2011
THE RESULTANT TAX INCREASE EFFECT WAS TO REDUCE THE DAILY SMOKERS’ INTAKE ON AVERAGE BY 1 STICK PER DAY ONLY
THE EXCISE INCOME FROM TOBACCO IS STILL HKD 1 BILLION+ LESS THAN IT COSTS GOVERNMENT TO TREAT THE RAVAGES OF TOBACCO
7000 CHILDREN UNDER 9 STARTED SMOKING IN 2010 AND 383,900 KIDS AGED 10-19 ALSO STARTED SMOKING IN 2010.
SIMPLY, CHILDREN CONTINUE TO START SMOKING IN HONG KONG SINCE THE PRICE IS TOO AFFORDABLE AND CIGARETTES ARE TOO ACCESSIBLE WITHOUT LICENSED RETAILERS
THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT DOING ITS JOB BY MAKING TOBACCO UNAFFORDABLE TO YOUTH AND BEYOND THEIR REACH BY WAY OF THE USAGE OF FIRST WORLD EXCISE TAX RATES.
THE WHOLE IDEA OF EXCISE TAX AS A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE IS TO STOP CHILDREN SMOKING AND TO ENCOURAGE OLDER SMOKERS TO GIVE UP
BECAUSE OF THE COST.
MEANWHILE IN 2011 GOVERNMENT SPENT LESS THAN 10 DAYS’ TOBACCO EXCISE INCOME ON TOBACCO CONTROL IN HONG KONG INCLUDING
THE COST OF TOBACCO CONTROL OFFICE, COUNCIL ON SMOKING AND HEALTH AND TOBACCO CESSATION FUNDING.
COMPARE:
MARLBORO PACK OF 20 STICKS
HONG KONG HKD 52
SINGAPORE HKD 72
NEW ZEALAND (NZD13.8) HKD 83
UK ASDA SUPERMARKET HKD 83 (even though Pound is weak @ 11.9 HKD)
IRELAND HKD 87 (even though Euro is weak @ 9.92 HKD)
AUSTRALIA HKD 106 (rate 8.022 HKD)
NEW YORK HKD 115
http://www.c-store.com.au/industry/tobacco.php#pm Marlboro 13.2
Download PDF : 2011EXCISETAXEFFECT