Hungary significantly reduce illegal cigarette sales licensor cause flooding

Tobacco compiled AFP reported on a parking lot in the town of Nyíregyháza, Imre describes his black market tobacco operations. His black market tobacco business thanks to a controversial government’s tobacco control program and flourish.Nyíregyháza town near the Ukrainian border.

The young man said: “We’ve sold hundreds of boxes of cigarettes every day.” His companion Janos explains how to use a small raft to transport contraband cigarettes over the Tisza River.

“We do not even have to climb the deck of the ship …… we only need a small raft from one rope to shore pulled another shore,” he told AFP.

“When pulled over cigarette smuggling, we will sort out the cigarette, and then sent to the country.”

“Business has never been so much,” he added.

In July this year, the Hungarian government shut down nearly 90 percent of cigarette sales license providers, licensors reduce the number from the previous 42,000 to 5300.

Hungarian authorities claimed that the fight against cigarette business is to prevent the sale of cigarettes and smoking to reduce the country’s 10 million population to minors. Hungary, the country has 46% of men and 34 percent of women smoke.

But critics say that the policy for Prime Minister Viktor Orban government’s close ally beneficial to bring their lucrative tobacco privileges.

A charity responsible 里托克 northern Hungary Nora said she questioned the official value of the government, the Hungarian government estimates at least a year decreased by 200,000 smokers.

“Everyone here is basically smoking,” she said.

“Before, you could buy cigarettes everywhere, in every shop, every bar now, because cigarettes were banned, so many small villages you have not found a government-licensed cigarette sales outlets …… which is why cigarette the black market in the development. ”

Cigarette black market developments and to what extent is unclear. However, according to the Inland Revenue Department and the Customs Administration (NAV) of data: 2013 10 months the amount of cigarette smuggling to 85 million, compared with 2012 was 68,000,000.

Since 2009, Hungary smoking bans in public places, but thanks to the latest government’s tobacco control efforts, some people see a more significant change in government attitudes.

“I think a lot of people to reduce the amount of smoking,” said lung specialist, anti-smoking Association, Xiyanuoshen & Muer Zi recently told “Kiskegyed Weekly.”

“This is because this year the price of cigarettes has gone up, the price of cigarettes per pack from 600 forints ($ 2.75) per pack forint rose to 1000, so some towns there is absolutely no cigarette sales.”

Government’s tobacco policy ironic success. Orban government opponents refuse to patronize some of the so-called “national cigarette shop” because of these policies in connection with the right-wing ruling party – Fidesz are associated.

“From the beginning I have been smoking 16 years, I have tried several times to quit smoking is good but without success,” a retiree in Budapest Nirvana U.S. special Marian said.

“Now, I think I found the motivation to quit: I will not spend a penny these national cigarette stores, these people are making money political friend,” she told AFP reporters.

Government tobacco control measures have produced unexpected results appear to be obvious from the cigarette tax. According to the statistics of the tax authorities: August cigarette tax fell to 24 million forints, compared to 36 million forints a year earlier.

However, the government plans to promote tobacco control measures, and plans to take on the electronic cigarette and smoke cigarettes and made the same restrictions.

The action has received in return, at least for Orban is the case. This year in October, the World Health Organization to grant him special recognition certificate in recognition of his efforts in the fight against smoking.

This is a result of the rights to seize foreign criticism of people, is a rare international respect.