Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Several smokers in the Kingdom are unwilling to kick the habit or cut down the number of cigarettes after the steep increase in tobacco prices in the country. The Kingdom has implemented the GCC decision to levy a unified tariff on the import of tobacco, spokesman of the Saudi customs department Isa Al-Issa was quoted as saying by Al-Hayat Arabic daily on Sunday. He said, under the GCC decision, the prices of tobacco and all its brands have doubled. The prices of tobacco products in Saudi Arabia have increased by 20 to 30 percent due to the increase on custom duties on imported tobacco. Some of the shops in the Eastern Province already started implementing the new regulation by selling a packet for SR15 instead of the SR10 previously charged. Zeyad Fatani, a Saudi in his late 40s, explained that the increase is not massive that could make people decide to stop smoking. In the recent past a packet of cigarette was priced around SR3 and then it was sold for SR5 and then SR10. But only a few people quit and many people started smoking. "In Europe one packet of cigarette is around 10 euros and people are still buying it," he added. Nour Ali, a female Saudi in her 30s, said, "All of us know that smoking is bad and is harmful for health. Yet, I will not quit smoking because of some external conditions such as increase in tobacco prices. I will quit if it was an internal decision and conviction." She added that the sudden increase in tobacco prices could make some vendors and sellers exploit the situation to garner more profit. Atallah Al-Enezi, a Saudi working in the customs, explained that the increase in the tobacco prices is a normal action because the seller is going to cover his loss after the increase of the custom duties by increasing the prices. He added that he tried to quit smoking several times but failed. He said he would not quit because of the increased prices. "I will keep smoking the same amount of cigarettes since I will be paying only around SR2 extra." he said. Taxes on tobacco products in the Kingdom are the lowest compared to other countries including the United States and "it would be good if this extra money is utilized in building hospitals," a Saudi in his 30s said. Naura Al-Awad, a Saudi female, said that rich smokers would not be affected with the increased prices. However, people with low income would be hugely affected by the steep increase in prices. "There is a possibility that they may steal or indulge in criminal actions to buy cigarettes," she feared. Assim Dagustani, a Saudi, believes increasing tobacco prices will help in decreasing the number of smokers.
