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Duty-free tobacco comes under fire

May 14, 2012  

Duty free sales of tobacco products at Norwegian airports will go up in smoke, if the country’s cancer association (Kreftforeningen) and medical association (Den norske legeforeningen) get their way. They’re calling for a halt to sales of relatively cheap cigarettes, for example, when Norwegians travel abroad.

The duty-free shops at Oslo's main airport at Gardermoen may be compelled to halt sales of tobacco products. PHOTO: Avinor

Norwegian authorities have long imposed punitive taxes on tobacco, partly because it’s considered a luxury item along with cosmetics and alcohol but mostly for health reasons. A single pack of 20 cigarettes now costs around NOK 90 (USD 16) in a Norwegian shop, with the vast majority of the price consisting of tax.

Norwegians traveling in and out of Norway, however, can still buy duty-free tobacco products at international airports and on board ships, where a pack of cigarettes costs around NOK 30 (USD 5). Some Norwegians are known to travel on the ferry between Sandefjord in Norway and Strömstad in Sweden, for example, or to buy cheap tickets on board the ferries to Denmark, with the main purpose of buying duty-free goods, and having some fun along the way.

Now the head of the medical association, Geir Riise, is calling for removal of the so-called “quota” that allows Norwegians to bring a certain amount of tobacco into Norway duty-free.

“Tobacco sales must be removed from duty-free shops,” agrees Anne Lise Ryel, secretary general of the cancer association. She told newspaper Vårt Land that price advantages of duty-free sales must be eliminated, adding that the sheer presence of tobacco in duty-free shops “normalizes” the product and undermines display prohibitions in Norway, where tobacco products are hidden away and customers must specifically ask for them. The display prohibition, which has been challenged by tobacco companies, is based on the theory of “out of sight, out of mind.”

Norway’s health ministry is currently considering new measures to further discourage smoking among youngsters, and is in the process of collecting public comment.

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  • http://profiles.google.com/kiwi.robbie Robert Cumming

    so they stop selling in Norway, people will just buy the products in the airport they land or depart from on their way to and from Norway.

  • http://twitter.com/ArrivalDutyFree Duty Free on Arrival

    Interestingly enough Australia has passed a law (effective 1st Sept) which will only allow 25 duty free cigarettes into the country. This is based upon the government raising extra tax revenues but there is no doubt that the “health lobby” had alot of influence in this. Other countries such as Sri Lanka do not allow the importation of duty free cigarettes into the country http://www.dutyfreeonarrival.com/en/travelpoint/520 as this website shows.

  • Jane1974

    If people want to buy cigerettes or cigar let them do so, most people are big enough to make their own decisions when it comes to their health, we do not need Big Mother telling us how to live our own lives.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/OAB2M4F57JQCYQDKYM6K5PWX2Q Ulrik

    Another excuse to swell the state coffers by raising tax revenue via inelastic luxuries under the guise of a ‘we just want you to be healthy’ program. The state apparatus seems to always agree with health lobbyists when it means more tax take but curiously condones and controls jackpot gaming machines, online poker and the export of live ammunition. Genius!