An Adelaide tobacco shop under investigation over advertisements for cheap cigarettes appears to have shut its doors for good.
Key points:
- The Royal Smokes Tobacconist was featured in flyers advertising cigarettes for less than half the normal price
- It is illegal to publicly advertise tobacco or e-cigarettes in SA using unsolicited flyers
- The windows have been covered in black plastic and the shop appears to have shut down
The Royal Smokes Tobacconist on Unley Road was featured in flyers, distributed in the local area, advertising cigarettes for $20 a packet — less than half the normal price.
The flyers also advertised 100 cigarettes or 100 grams of tobacco for $50.
It is illegal to publicly advertise tobacco or e-cigarettes in South Australia using unsolicited flyers.
The flyers advertised the business’s operating hours as from 9am to 7pm seven days a week.
However, when the ABC visited the shop on Saturday afternoon, it was closed.
Signage and logos displayed on the business on Friday have now been removed.
The windows have been covered in black plastic and a handmade sign has been posted advertising a business for sale.
Health Minister Chris Picton requested SA Health’s Public Health Unit to urgently investigate after becoming aware of the flyers on Friday.
“SA Health is continuing to undertake that investigation in relation to what seems some alleged and apparent breaches of tobacco rules and regulations and laws that we have in place,” he said.
“We have very strict laws for tobacco for a reason and that’s because of the devastating harm that tobacco causes. It is a leading killer of South Australians.
“It’s important that our laws that uphold public health are maintained by all businesses across the state.”
After sighting the flyers on Thursday, SA Health said it had received “multiple complaints concerning unlicensed tobacco stores”.
“Investigations are pending on certain tobacco stores, and information has been referred to a number of law enforcement and regulatory agencies,” the statement said.
The ABC approached the business for comment.
Australian Border Force investigates the illegal important of tobacco to Australia, while the Australian Tax Office investigates the growth and manufacture of illicit tobacco within Australia.
In a statement, the ATO said that as of August this year, it had seized 462 tonnes of illicit tobacco in more than 100 incidents, representing “an estimated $693 million in excise evaded”.
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