“If the industry claims that young people pick up smoking because illegal cigarettes are cheap, why then are they trying to provide smaller packs that are more affordable? “They (kiddie packs) are designed to reel in ‘low consumption’ smokers — the casual, social, women and children. “The alternative to illicit cigarettes is not ‘legal’ cigarettes. Norashidah says the study also shows that higher price of cigarettes does not influence the sale of illicit cigarettes, but factors such as corruption control, enforcement and other government efforts have a greater impact on illicit cigarettes. Malaysian Green Lung Association co-founder and president Ho Rhu Yann says the argument that kiddie packs will tackle illicit cigarettes is “groundless and illogical”.

Source: New Strait Times September 23, 2017 01:41 UTC