People buying illicit tobacco to resist government policy
Research in New Zealand shows smokers buy illicit tobacco for political reasons beyond cost savings.
Illicit tobacco now accounts for half to two-thirds of all tobacco consumed in Australia and is growing rapidly in New Zealand. Researchers interviewed 20 smokers to understand why.
Legal cigarettes cost NZ$40 to $60 per pack, while black market ones cost NZ$10 to $25. Price alone does not explain the choice.
Interviews revealed deeper motivations. Many saw illicit tobacco purchases as an act of defiance, a way to resist government they felt had treated them unfairly by taxing cigarettes heavily.
Some participants saw buying illicit tobacco as not real crime. They distanced themselves from criminal networks by practising convenient unknowing, avoiding questions about where the tobacco came from.
Researchers suggest policy strategies beyond enforcement. These include addressing poverty linked to smoking and designing support programmes with community involvement.
- NZ$40 to NZ$60
- Legal pack price
- NZ$10 to NZ$25
- Black market price
- 20
- Smokers interviewed
- 50-60%
- Market share in Australia
Why it mattersAs illicit tobacco markets grow, governments must understand the motivations beyond price. Treating it purely as crime may not work.
AustraliaAustralia's illicit tobacco market is already large at 50-60% of all tobacco; understanding smokers' motivations could shape future policy.
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