Cost is not the only reason people buy illicit tobacco – for some, it’s an act of defiance

Key points

• Cost savings are not the only reason some New Zealanders buy illicit tobacco. Research with 20 users found many saw purchases as defiance of a government they felt treated them unfairly.
• Participants said excise tax revenue had not gone to healthcare, housing or other areas that would benefit them. Many also avoided asking where tobacco came from, a practice the researchers call convenient unknowing.
• The researchers say a broader response is needed, including tighter supply controls and measures to address poverty and unemployment.