thanks AV KID for shedding some light on this,

PERSONAL MUSINGS POST
I am wondering whether the 'break-even' point between revenue on tobacco and alcohol has been reached.
In other words...would it be wiser for the UK Government to lower the taxes on these consumables and then make up the losses incurred from people buying abroad, and giving the taxes to another Country?
For example: if the losses of Revenue due to 'duty-free' goods is greater than a tax reduction loss, drop the taxes to a level where people will go back to buying them in the UK at a lower tax level, and the UK can experience the joy of collecting ALL the taxes lost overseas , as well as those collected from buyers IN the UK.
But the old hot chestnut of trying to wean people off these commodities for the sake of the Nation's Health by making them too expensive etc will reappear. I personally think that 'ploy' had absolutely nothing to do with concern for our Health, and ALL about getting more tax revenues.

NICK I TOTALLY AGREE, what happened to freedom of choice, pressure from government to do as they say

i think ciggy border runners should get a job and stop whinging, everything hits a limit its only a few years ago musicians were getting away with murder in salou raping the bars charging up to 200 euros for aload of crap now they fight over a 75 euro gig.

Go on Local, get it all out of your system. It's certainly clear that the season's over. I am not a cigarette smuggler, I have a job. However, if I do travel from Spain to the UK, I will always take cigarettes with me. Why wouldn't I, considering the price for a packet of 20 is pushing £7 in the UK.