NARRATOR:
'Wanted for questioning - one teenager from the UK High Street. 'On trial, their stuff - Captured.'
INTERVIEWER:
'Name - Jack. 'Age - 16. 'In his pocket, cigarettes.'
INTERVIEWER:
You know it's illegal to cigarettes at your age Jack? You have to be 18.
JACK:
Yeah I don’t really buy them for myself, I kind of like nick them off my mates.
INTERVIEWER:
And it's a filthy habit and also very dangerous to your health.
JACK:
Yeah I know that but I don’t smoke all the time. I'm what's called as a "social smoker."
INTERVIEWER:
Question one coming up. What percentage of the price of cigarettes is tax? 20 percent or 75 percent?
CAPTION:
Q. WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE PRICE OF
CIGARETTES IS TAX?
A 20%
B 75%
JACK:
75 percent.
INTERVIEWER:
Correct. Now to find out why cigarettes are taxed so heavily, click and drag the top icon.
NARRATOR TWO:
'When people buy a pack of cigarettes about 75 percent of the money 'go straight to the government.
NARRATOR TWO:
'The rate is set in the budget by the UK's money keeper. 'The Chancellor of the Exchequer. 'Britain has one of the highest tax levels in the world for cigarettes. 'Allowing the government to raise ten billion pounds in tax each year.
NARRATOR TWO:
'Sounds a lot doesn't it? 'But it doesn't meet the costs, 'Britain's annual smoking bill is 13 and a half billion pounds. 'Health is the big expense, treating sickly smokers. 'Also, days off work and loss of productivity. 'And we have to pay to clean up butts and fire damage.
NARRATOR TWO:
'In fact, every cigarette smoked costs the country 'six and a half pence.
NARRATOR TWO:
'So, should smokers have to cough up even more in tax?'
So Jack, should smokers have to pay more in tax?
JACK:
Yeah I guess it's only fair, but some people might not be able to afford it.
INTERVIEWER:
Well then, more people will be forced to kick the habit. Better for people's health and our economy. Now what's an illegal market for cigarettes called? The black market or the pink market?
CAPTION:
Q. WHAT'S AN ILLEGAL MARKET CALLED?
A BLACK MARKET
B PINK MARKET
JACK:
The black market.
INTERVIEWER:
Yes, now play the film to find out about cigarette smuggling.
NARRATOR TWO:
'Cigarettes are one of the worlds most widely smuggled products, 'with one in every ten trafficked by criminal gangs. 'Many are well known brands. Snuck past border police to dodge tax. 'Cheap cigarettes, but at who's expense?
NARRATOR TWO:
'Governments worldwide lose out on billions in tax. 'Money that could help pay for hospitals, health and housing.
NARRATOR TWO:
'Counterfeit crime is big business too. 'With fake branded cigarettes, often stuffed full of cheap poisons 'then smuggled worldwide for big profit. 'Even more dangerous to smoke than normal.
NARRATOR TWO:
'It calls for a worldwide crackdown 'but how do you police such a global crime?'
INTERVIEWER:
It's a big problem, with one in every ten cigarettes sold on the black market.
JACK:
I never realised how big it was and yeah I have seen some fake cigarette brands around.
INTERVIEWER:
Well it's illegal and comes at a cost to us all. What does smoking cost the global economy each year? One billion dollars or five hundred billion dollars?
JACK:
Five hundred billion dollars.
INTERVIEWER:
Right. It's a huge figure. Now find out how governments worldwide are tackling this.
CAPTION:
Q.WHAT DOES SMOKING COST THE GLOBAL
ECONOMY EACH YEAR?
A $1 BILLION
B $500 BILLION
NARRATOR TWO:
'It's the fight of the century. 'On one side, the rich and powerful tobacco industry. 'On the other, governments with power to make laws. 'Once tobacco companies had free reign to advertise, 'spending billions each year on ads to tempt us. And it worked! Up went sales and profits.
NARRATOR TWO:
'But in the last decade, there's been government clamp down. 'In Britain, we have banned all tobacco advertising.
NARRATOR TWO: 'Outlawed tobacco sponsorship. 'Made health warnings on packs compulsory. 'Raised the legal age to buy cigarettes to 18 'and banned smoking in public places.
NARRATOR TWO:
'The government has fought hard and is winning. 'Fewer people smoke and cigarette sales are down. 'It's not just the British government that's acted.
NARRATOR TWO:
'The European Union launched a campaign 'that kick-started control laws across Europe. 'There's also a global push led by WHO, which created a worldwide guide for tougher tobacco laws.
NARRATOR TWO:
'But in many poorer parts of the world, laws are still lax. 'And cigarette companies are free to advertise and attract new smokers. 'So smoking in these countries is on the rise. 'Causing spiralling health problems 'and an expensive habit for people already on the poverty line.
NARRATOR TWO:
'The thing is, tighter regulations isn't in every countries interests. 'Some like Malawi depend on growing tobacco to make money. 'Others don’t want to lose out on high tax and aid gifts donated by 'rich tobacco companies.
NARRATOR TWO:
'The figures for smoking are scary. 'There are 1.3 billion smokers worldwide and tobacco kills 'one in ten adults globally. 'And the cost to the world economy? '500 billion dollars each year.
NARRATOR TWO:
'Yet tobacco companies continue to reap huge profits. 'But just how far should governments go in regulating things 'that are bad for us? 'Or should it be personal choice? 'It's the same dilemma with alcohol and even fast food. 'It's a never ending tussle between industry, government and us.'
INTERVIEWER:
So Jack, should there be tougher regulations against smoking worldwide?
JACK:
I do think it's a personal choice but I disagree with more poorer countries that can't even afford food and yet they're spending money on cigarettes.
INTERVIEWER:
So will you now quit this nasty habit?
JACK:
It's difficult, I'll think about it.
INTERVIEWER:
Thanks Jack, you're released.
