tma smokers’ anti-illicit trade survey 2018: attitudes...

TMA Smokers’ Anti-Illicit Trade Survey 2018: Attitudes, Awareness and UnderstandingIn April and May 2018, the TMA commissioned a nationwide poll of adult smokers to understand their attitudes, awareness and understanding of illicit tobacco. The questions received input from HM Revenue and Customs and other stakeholders. The 2018 results supplement those of similar surveys conducted by the TMA over the past four years and the results are compared where possible.

The survey sample was weighted to be representative of the UK

by government office region. Some totals may not add up to

100% due to rounding.

1038

343517

624

902

1074

989 1613

1043

1545

1344 978

76% of adult smokers buy tobacco products from non-UK duty paid sources – an increase on 73% last year.

85% London has the highest prevalence of non-UK duty paid tobacco purchases (85%) and Wales had the lowest prevalence (70%).

Adult smokers of all ages were more likely to buy non-UK duty paid sources than last year.

Scotland NI North East North West Yorkshire and Humber Wales East Midlands West Midlands South west South east London East of England

Survey total = 12,010

Key Findings Responses by region

of respondents agreeing that the introduction of mandatory plain packaging andsaying the ban on small packs has made them more likely to do so.

28%37%

Legislative changes introduced in the last year appear to be pushing smokers to buy untaxed tobacco with

32 © Copyright: Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association (TMA) 2018© Copyright: Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association (TMA) 2018

Overall Purchasing Patterns Key Information

• Corner shops and supermarkets appear to be slightly less common places to buy tobacco products in 2018 than in previous years (down 7% and 5% from 2017 respectively).

• 17% of adult smokers buy tobacco products at least once a year from friends and family who do not smoke.

• 57% of respondents say they buy tobacco from Duty Free at least once a year.

Location UK

Friends and family 7%

Festivals/Pubs/Bars 3%

Markets or car boot sales 3%

Private houses – so-called ‘fag’ or ‘tab’ houses 3%

Internet – social media and/or websites advertising cheap tobacco 3%

Someone selling in a pub, bar or café i.e. a non-employee 3%

Vans 2%

Workplace 3%

People in the street – i.e. individuals in public place not listed above 2%

Other 1%

Don’t know 0% How often do you buy tobacco from the following sources?

BASE: 12,010 | ALL INTERVIEWS

Location NeverMore than once

a week

Once a week

Once a fortnight

Once a month

Three to six times

a year

Once every six months

Once a year

Don’t know

Markets or car boot sales 85% 6% 2% 1% 1% 2% 1% 1% 2%

Vans 87% 4% 2% 1% 1% 2% 0% 1% 2%

Workplace 85% 5% 2% 1% 2% 2% 1% 1% 2%

Private houses (so-called ‘fag' or ‘tab’ houses) 86% 4% 2% 1% 2% 2% 1% 1% 2%

From friends and family that smoke 68% 6% 3% 3% 5% 6% 3% 4% 2%

Internet (social media and/or websites advertising cheap tobacco) 86% 4% 2% 1% 2% 2% 1% 1% 2%

Someone selling in a pub, bar or café i.e. a non-employee 81% 4% 2% 2% 2% 3% 1% 2% 2%

People in the street 87% 4% 2% 1% 1% 2% 1% 1% 2%

Abroad (in a local shop when travelling outside the UK) 45% 6% 3% 1% 2% 8% 10% 21% 3%

From friends and family that do not smoke 81% 4% 2% 1% 2% 4% 2% 3% 2%

Duty Free 40% 3% 1% 1% 2% 10% 12% 28% 4%

Where do you buy your tobacco products?


Key Information

• 76% of adult smokers buy tobacco products from non-UK duty paid sources – an increase from 73% last year.

• Respondents from London were most likely to buy non-UK duty paid tobacco products.

• Adult smokers on the lowest incomes were most likely to buy tobacco products from non-UK duty paid sources excluding from abroad and Duty Free.

Non-UK Duty Paid Purchasing Patterns

Percentage of respondents who had bought non-UK duty paid tobacco products by gender.

BASE: 12,010

Percentage of respondents who had bought non-UK duty paid tobacco products excluding from abroad and at Duty Free by income.

BASE: 12,010

Percentage of respondents who had bought non-UK duty paid tobacco products by age.

BASE: 12,010

Percentage of respondents who had bought non-UK duty paid tobacco products by UK region.

75%

80%75%

70%

73%

74%

72% 76%

76%

85%

78% 76% Scotland NI North East North West Yorkshire and Humber Wales East Midlands West Midlands South west South east London East of England

Survey total = 12,010

MALE

79%FEMALE

73%

18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+

?

80% 79% 77% 74% 73% 70%74%

Less than £6,000

57%2017 48%

£6,001-£9,999

47%2017 45%

£10,000-£19,999

44%2017 40%

£20,000-£29,999

43%2017 40%

£30,000-£39,999

44%2017 43%

£40,000-£49,999

45%2017 41%

£50,000-£59,999

45%2017 42%

£60,000 and over

46%2017 40%

Prefer not to say

37%2017 32%

SUPERMARKET

SUPERMARKETS – INCLUDING ONLINE

DELIVERY:

66%7% FROM 2017

2017: 73%2016: 79%2015: 79%

DUTY FREE

DUTY FREE SHOP – AT THE AIRPORT, FERRY

OR EUROTUNNEL:

13%4% FROM 2017

2017: 17%2016: 19%2015: N/A

ABROAD – IN A LOCAL SHOP WHEN TRAVELLING

OUTSIDE THE UK:

12%3% FROM 2017

2017: 15%2016: 16%2015: 17%

PUBPUB

CORNER SHOP/ NEWSAGENTS:

64%2017: 69%2016: 68%2015: 67%

5% FROM 2017

2017 Survey | poll of 12,000 adult smokers (unweighted) | Survey in field in June 2018 © Copyright: Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association (TMA) 2018 52016 Survey | poll of 12,000 adult smokers (unweighted) | Survey in field in June 2018© Copyright: Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association (TMA) 20184

New regulations and taxes Key Information

• 28% of respondents agreed that plain packaging made them more likely to buy untaxed tobacco.• Over a quarter of respondents (26%) are aware of illicit tobacco products in their local area – much

higher than last year (20%).• 37% of respondents agree that the ban on small tobacco packs has made them more likely to buy

untaxed tobacco.• 86% of respondents agree that tobacco prices are too high.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of these statements:


Question Disagree strongly

Disagree slightly

I have no opinion on this

Agree slightly

Agree strongly

Rising tobacco prices tempt me to purchase tobacco that has not been subject to UK taxes 15% 9% 20% 29% 27%

The recent introduction of plain tobacco packaging has made me more likely to purchase untaxed tobacco 23% 14% 34% 16% 12%

The recent introduction of minimum pack sizes has made me more likely to purchase tobacco 21% 15% 28% 20% 17%

I have no objections to buying tobacco that has not been subject to UK taxes for myself 7% 6% 21% 27% 39%

I have no objections to buying tobacco that has not been subject to UK taxes from – friend/relative, shops, etc. 14% 12% 28% 26% 21%

I am nervous about buying tobacco that has not been subject to UK taxes in case the product is counterfeit 9% 12% 24% 28% 26%

Up to £2.00

33%

£2.01-£4.00

4%

£4.01-£6.00

6%

£6.01-£8.00

6%

£8.01-£10.00

9%

£10.01-£12.00

9%

£12.01-£14.00

6%

£14.01-£16.00

4%

£20.01 +

16%£18.01-£20.00

6%£16.01-£18.00

3%

How much do you typically spend a week on tobacco products which you know have not been subject to UK taxes e.g. cheap purchases in a pub or cheap purchases online


Brexit and non-UK duty paid tobacco Key Information

• Almost two thirds of respondents would support the return of Duty Free tobacco shopping post Brexit if it included a limit of 200 cigarettes.

• Over half of people believe it is ok to sell tobacco that you have bought abroad in the UK despite it being illegal if you don't pay UK duty.

• 38% of respondents who brought back roll your own tobacco from abroad typically brought more than 250g.

Which of the following statements do you agree with:


Question Yes No

It's ok to buy tobacco overseas and in duty free shops and bring it back to the UK to sell 54% 46%

I plan to buy tobacco products abroad and bring back as many cigarettes / tobacco as I legally can 59% 41%

I know where to find the rules to tell me how much tobacco I can bring back into the UK from aboard 62% 39%

I don’t like buying cigarettes / tobacco in overseas or Duty Free shops 27% 73%

On each occasion, you purchase tobacco from abroad to bring back to the UK, how much do you typically buy?


On each occasion, you purchase tobacco from abroad to bring back to the UK, how much do you typically buy?


Single sticks

200 cigarettes

More than 1,000 cigarettes

1%14%4%

14%

11%

42%

13%

20 – 40 cigarettes

100 cigarettes

Don’t know

Cigarettes

400 cigarettes

600 – 1000 cigarettes

2%

Would you support the return of Duty Free tobacco shopping from EU countries if it included a limit of 200 cigarettes or 250 grams roll your own tobacco?


13%No

64%Yes

23%Don’t know

50g Roll Your Own tobacco

RYO750g Roll Your Own tobacco

250g of Roll Your Own tobacco

Don’t know

More than 1kg Roll Your Own tobacco

1kg Roll Your Own tobacco

100g – 150g Roll Your Own tobacco

500g Roll Your Own tobacco

16%

15%

26%

19%

11%

6%6%

1%

Are you aware of illicit tobacco products (UK tax has not been paid including non-plain packaged cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco) being sold in your area?


26% said yes2017: 20%2016: 20%

2015: 19%2014: 30%

Do you believe UK tobacco prices are?


58%FAR TOO HIGH

28%TOO HIGH

11%ABOUT RIGHT

1%TOO LOW

1%FAR TOO LOW

1%DON'T KNOW

Have you reported the sale of illicit tobacco products to anyone in the past 12 months – by region?

BASE: 3,081

13%

8%11%

7%

10%

13%

10% 12%

13%

31%

13% 12%

Scotland NI North East North West Yorkshire and Humber Wales East Midlands West Midlands South west South east London East of England

Within the last year, are you aware of any under 18s buying or selling illicit tobacco locally?

YES11%

NO82%

DON'T KNOW

7%


76

Awareness of illicit tobacco Key Information

• The average price of 20 illicit cigarettes was £4.33 – significantly below legal retail prices.

• Awareness of under 18s buying or selling illicit tobacco fell slightly to 11% from 12% last year.

• More than one in five respondents had seen Richman tobacco products in their local area despite it not being sold in the UK.

© Copyright: Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association (TMA) 2018© Copyright: Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association (TMA) 2018

When you have seen illicit tobacco products being sold, what price range have they been within for a pack of 20 cigarettes?


When you have seen illicit tobacco products being sold, what price range have they been within for a pack of 50g rolling tobacco?


2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

% % % % %

£3.00 or Less 19% 21% 18% 12% 11%

£3.01 to £4.00 45% 43% 32% 37% 32%

£4.01 to £5.00 21% 23% 29% 28% 31%

£5.01 to £6.00 9% 8% 12% 15% 16%

£6.00 or More 6% 5% 8% 8% 10%

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

% % % % %

£5.00 or Less 18% 16% 18% 12% 10%

£5.01 to £6.00 16% 16% 14% 12% 13%

£6.01 to £7.00 18% 14% 14% 12% 13%

£7.01 to £8.00 28% 24% 20% 18% 15%

£8.00 or More 20% 29% 34% 45% 49%

2017: YES 12% NO 81% DON’T KNOW 7%

Have you seen the following non-shop brands and if so have you purchased them?


Question Seen Purchased

Eastenders 12% 48%

Fest / PECT 14% 38%

Flandria 11% 44%

Minsk 15% 35%

Richman 23% 33%

The Turner 22% 41%

Email 7% 44%

Springfield 15% 39%

Reporting of illicit tobacco Key Information

• 14% of respondents who are aware of illciit tobacco have reported it – a slight increase on 12% from 2016 – and London has by far the best reporting rate (31%).

• The Police (38%) remains them most popular organisation to report illcit tobacco to.

• Similarly the primary reason (62%) for not reporting illicit tobacco is that ‘it is none of my business’.

2% O T H E R | 9% D O N ’ T K N O W

33%HM REVENUE & CUSTOMS

25%CRIMESTOPPERS

25%LOCAL COUNCIL

23%TRADING STANDARDS

10%THE MEDIA

38%POLICE

If you have reported the sale of illicit tobacco in the past 12 months, who was it to?

BASE: 442 | ALL INTERVIEWS

SAME FROM 2017 5% FROM 2017 2% FROM 20171% FROM 2017 3% FROM 20173% FROM 2017

Have you reported the sale of these illicit tobacco products to anyone in the past 12 months?

BASE: 3,081

3%S A I D D O N ’ T

K N O W

S A I DYES14%

2017: 12% 2016: 21% 2015: 15%

83%S A I DNO

If you have not reported the sale of illicit tobacco to anyone, why was that?

BASE: 2,545

Question 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

I didn’t know who to tell 18% 20% 21% 15% 20%

I was afraid to tell anyone in case I got in to trouble 13% 18% 17% 13% 14%

It’s none of my business 59% 57% 57% 64% 62%

Other 11% 10% 9% 11% 10%

Don’t know 8% 5% 6% 4% 5%

Non-UK duty paid

© Copyright: Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association (TMA) 20188

Have you seen any recent media about the dangers of illicit tobacco in your area (local paper/internet/twitter/radio/TV)?


Deterrents from buying and selling illicit tobacco Key Information

• Slightly fewer respondents (22%) believe that there are sufficient deterrents to stop people buying and selling illegal tobacco than last year (24%).

• However, almost 50% of respondents believe that there are sufficient legal deterrents to buying and selling illegal tobacco.

• Only one in ten respondents has seen any recent media about the dangers of illicit tobacco.

Do you think there are sufficient deterrents – e.g. legal, social, etc. to dissuade or prevent people from selling and/or buying illicit tobacco products?

YES22%

NO48%

DON'T KNOW

30%


2017: YES 24% NO 47% DON’T KNOW 29%

Do you think the following are sufficient deterrents to dissuade or prevent people from selling and/or buying illicit tobacco products?


LEGAL DETERRENTS (e.g. high likelihood of

getting caught and severe level of punishment)

DON’T KNOW

19%2017:

YES 47% NO 34% DON’T KNOW 19%

SOCIAL DETERRENTS (e.g. people have a

negative perception of using illicit tobacco)

DON’T KNOW

20%2017:


MEDIA DETERRENTS (e.g. frequent advertising

campaigns or articles against illicit tobacco)

DON’T KNOW

19%2017:


POLITICAL DETERRENTS (e.g. clear and direct Government action

and sentiment against illicit tobacco)

DON’T KNOW

20%2017:


ECONOMIC DETERRENTS (e.g. the price of

legitimate tobacco products is not too high)

DON’T KNOW

20%2017:


NO33%

YES49%

NO47%

YES33%

NO47%

YES34%

NO44%

NO34%

YES35%

YES46%

YES11%

NO85%

DON’T KNOW

5%

tma smokers’ anti-illicit trade survey 2018: attitudes...

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