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Research papers: T Vander Beken, J Janssens, K Verpoest, A Balcaen, and F Vander Laenen Crossing geographical, legal and moral boundaries: the Belgian cigarette black market Tob Control 2008; 17: 60-65 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]

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: Exploring the role of independent convenience stores in the cigarette black-market in Toronto, ON

Russell C Callghan, J. Charles Victor, Joey Tavares, and Lawren Taylor   (4 February 2008)

: Exploring the role of independent convenience stores in the cigarette black-market in Toronto, ON 4 February 2008
Russell C Callghan, Scientist Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, J. Charles Victor, Joey Tavares, and Lawren Taylor Send letter to journal: Re: : Exploring the role of independent convenience stores in the cigarette black-market in Toronto, ON Russell_Callaghan{at}camh.net Russell C Callghan, et al.	In a recently published article in Tobacco Control, Vander Beken and colleagues [1] concluded that the Belgian cigarette black-market manifested myriad links with the legitimate business world and, as a result, effective tobacco control policies will need to address the role of legitimate businesses in this market. Our letter confirms this conclusion within a Canadian context. Approximately 10-17% of cigarettes smoked in Canada in 2005-2006 were illicit, and 95% of all illicit cigarettes (i.e., contraband) in Canada were manufactured on First Nations reserves in the provinces of Ontario and Québec [2,3]. Even though two-thirds of contraband cigarette consumers report buying contraband cigarettes at off-reserve locations [4], little is known about the distribution network of contraband cigarettes in Canada. Previously, we examined the contraband cigarette market at one of Canada's largest psychiatric hospitals, a 436-bed facility located in Toronto [5]. Approximately 60% of the cigarette butts sampled from patient ashtrays appeared to be contraband; and 80% of the cigarette packages found in a facility-wide garbage audit at the psychiatric hospital were from illicit brands manufactured on American Indian reservations in northern New York State. Anecdotal evidence suggested that independent convenience stores were serving as a prominent distribution source for native-manufactured contraband cigarettes, and the current letter examined this possibility. We assessed the prevalence of legitimate independent convenience stores willing to sell illicit native-manufactured cigarettes in Toronto, Ontario. A list of all independent convenience store tobacco retailers in the study area was obtained from the City of Toronto. Our sample included all of the 115 independent convenience stores located within a 2 km distance from the psychiatric hospital: 30 within 1 km, and 85 within the 1-2 km span. Data collection occurred during July and August 2007. A male research assistant (aged 36 years) entered each of the 115 stores and asked the clerk, "Do you have any native cigarettes?" A store was coded as willing to sell illicit native cigarettes, if: (1) the clerk provided an affirmative answer; (2) the clerk engaged the research assistant in a selling transaction (e.g., the clerk asked the research assistant, "How much money do you have?"); or (3) the research assistant saw the clerk selling illicit native-manufactured cigarettes to another customer. Legitimate independent convenience stores located closer to the psychiatric hospital were significantly more likely to be willing to sell illicit native-manufactured cigarettes. Approximately 57% (17/30) of the stores within 1 km of the hospital were willing to sell contraband cigarettes, while roughly 12% (10/85) of the stores located in the 1-2 km zone showed the same tendency (chi-square = 24.9, p < 0.001). Similar to the findings of Vander Beken, et al. 2008, our results suggest that Ontario tobacco-control policies will need to recognize legitimate businesses—in our case, independent convenience stores—as important sources in the distribution network of black-market cigarettes. References: 1. T Vander Beken, J Janssens, K Verpoest, A Balcaen, and F Vander Laenen. Crossing geographical, legal and moral boundaries: The Belgian cigarette black market. Tobacco Control 2008; 17:60-65. 2. Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada. Warning signs about cigarette smuggling: And actions governments can take to address this growing problem. Ottawa: Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada; 2006 December. 3. Imperial Tobacco. Collateral damage: Illicit tobacco trade takes on phenomenal proportions. 2006 [cited 2007 February 5th]; Available from: http://www.imperialtobacco.com/onewebca/sites/IMP_5TUJVZ.nsf/vwPagesWebLive/362441A11150B0B6C1257108005E76AC?opendocument&DTC=&SID= 4. GFK Research Dynamics. New Information on Illegal Tobacco Sales: National Study for the Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers' Council. Mississauga, ON: Imperial Tobacco; 2007 July. 5. RC Callaghan, J Tavares, and L Taylor. Illicit cigarette markets in marginalized, low-income populations: an example from psychiatric patients in Toronto, Ontario. American Journal of Public Health 2008; 98:4 -5.