Less cigarettes in a pack but same price and packaging?

yeahbuddy · 02/06/14 - 19:59

My mum had been a smoker for about twenty years and has seen the price if twenty increase dramatically. She was told today when buying a pack that there are only 19 in a pack of twenty due to something to do with the EU. There still the same price and still say '20' on the pack. Anyone know anything about this and has it been going on long?

MargMck · 02/06/14 - 20:06

yeahbuddy wrote: »

My mum had been a smoker for about twenty years and has seen the price if twenty increase dramatically. She was told today when buying a pack that there are only 19 in a pack of twenty due to something to do with the EU. There still the same price and still say '20' on the pack. Anyone know anything about this and has it been going on long?

:DNow... I want out of the EU but even it wouldn't do this. What's more likely is some dodgy shop has got hold of some **** packets that should have gone in a cigarette vending machine as these often contain 15-19 cigs to match easy coinage £1s+£2s) and are now selling them at full price.
Tell her to try ecigs.

skp20040 · 02/06/14 - 20:08

I am not sure this is the EU, I had a search and it appears some brands are moving to 19 but not all. Its probably about profit, the government gets 82.5% per pack with the rest split between retailer and manufacturer.

http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/tesco-price-comparison/Tobacconist/Richmond_Superkings_Cigarettes_19_per_pack_x_5.html

yeahbuddy · 02/06/14 - 20:08

MargMck wrote: »

:DNow... I want out of the EU but even it wouldn't do this. What's more likely is some dodgy shop has got hold of some **** packets that should have gone in a cigarette vending machine as these often contain 15-19 cigs to match easy coinage £1s+£2s) and are now selling them at full price.
Tell her to try ecigs.

Luckily we know the shop owners as they are neighbours for about six years so we know there not croaks. they were the ones who suggested e-cigs, she just can't get used to them.

jenzie · 02/06/14 - 20:10

yeah
some dumbass told mummy about it!
;-)

probably some cheap ass shoppe keeper nicking ones out of packs

skp20040 · 02/06/14 - 20:12

jenzie wrote: »

yeah
some dumbass told mummy about it!
;-)

probably some cheap ass shoppe keeper nicking ones out of packs

It does appear that some have gone to 19

http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/tesco-price-comparison/Tobacconist/Richmond_Superkings_Cigarettes_19_per_pack_x_5.html

http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/Shopping/FindProducts.aspx?Query=chesterfield%20

whilst others ( seemingly more premium brands ) remain at 20

http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/Shopping/FindProducts.aspx?Query=benson%20and%20hedges

http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/Shopping/FindProducts.aspx?Query=silk%20cut

[Deleted User] · 02/06/14 - 20:37

First Coca Cola, now ****!!

1066andallthat · 02/06/14 - 20:43

Someone had to say it...

FEWER

dearmrman · 02/06/14 - 20:45

Was told about it the other week, that all companies will be moving to 19, 20's will no longer be available...don't know when it is supposed to happen though. Some brands have already started.

phill363 · 02/06/14 - 20:49

Its been this way in Europe for a while but in most countries its only €6 a pack of 19

Sifter22 · 02/06/14 - 20:50

I smoke blue pall mall and they've been 19 in a pack for a good few years

marianna01 · 02/06/14 - 20:55

dearmrman wrote: »

Was told about it the other week, that all companies will be moving to 19, 20's will no longer be available...don't know when it is supposed to happen though. Some brands have already started.

Yes most have and it does state on the pack that there are 19 cigs.

OH brought a 200 pack duty free from Cyprus two or three months ago and only just noticed on the last '20' that there were only 19 per pack. This has been kept very quiet from all the loyal customers!

Madamfluff · 02/06/14 - 20:59

Sifter22 wrote: »

I smoke blue pall mall and they've been 19 in a pack for a good few years

I smoke the green ones and they are a lot cheaper then the premium brands packs of 20

Sifter22 · 02/06/14 - 21:06

Madamfluff wrote: »

I smoke the green ones and they are a lot cheaper then the premium brands packs of 20

Are the greens the menthol ones?

tania4steve · 02/06/14 - 21:11

1066andallthat wrote: »

Someone had to say it...

FEWER

When I opened this thread my first 2 thoughts were:
1. They mean fewer! Can I resist posting this?
2. Nah, someone else will have beaten me to it, I predict by post 11...

Wasn't far out

Bulletguy1 · 02/06/14 - 21:15

yeahbuddy wrote: »

My mum had been a smoker for about twenty years and has seen the price if twenty increase dramatically. She was told today when buying a pack that there are only 19 in a pack of twenty due to something to do with the EU. There still the same price and still say '20' on the pack. Anyone know anything about this and has it been going on long?

First of all.....it has absolutely nothing to do with EU and everything to do with UK tobacco profiteering and maximising whatever they can get their grubby paws on.

Secondly, it doesn't say 20 on the packs with 19 in otherwise they'd be contravening description laws.

Finally, all cigarettes are sold in packs of 20 in all countries outside the UK. Whenever i escape the UK i smoke Marlboro 100's (Superkings) so using that brand as an example, they cost around £4.80 in Belgium down to as little as £1.70 in Serbia (2013 prices).

dearmrman · 02/06/14 - 21:23

Bulletguy1 wrote: »

First of all.....it has absolutely nothing to do with EU and everything to do with UK tobacco profiteering and maximising whatever they can get their grubby paws on.

Secondly, it doesn't say 20 on the packs with 19 in otherwise they'd be contravening description laws.

Finally, all cigarettes are sold in packs of 20 in all countries outside the UK. Whenever i escape the UK i smoke Marlboro 100's (Superkings) so using that brand as an example, they cost around £4.80 in Belgium down to as little as £1.70 in Serbia (2013 prices).

The Government takes the biggest cut, hence the high prices compared to other countries.

Packs of 10 are subject to been banned from 2016 and menthol cigarettes by 2022, providing it gets approved, but most Countries in the EU are in favour so would seem this is likely.

Hollie_Louise · 02/06/14 - 22:28

dearmrman wrote: »

The Government takes the biggest cut, hence the high prices compared to other countries.

Packs of 10 are subject to been banned from 2016 and menthol cigarettes by 2022, providing it gets approved, but most Countries in the EU are in favour so would seem this is likely.

They better not get rid of menthol I'll be screwed! Packs on 10 I'm not too fussed about though.

My brand have gone down to 19, but cost about 30p less I think. And they say 19 on the packet too.

Madamfluff · 02/06/14 - 22:37

Sifter22 wrote: »

Are the greens the menthol ones?

Yes and when you push the button on the top they get stronger AND the king size are the same price as the standard size - result in my book

Hypnodisc · 03/06/14 - 00:04

As others have said, nothing to do with 'the EU', and everything to do with tobacco companies wanting to maximise sales and profit.

Having said that, this isn't even a new thing. The 'value' cigarettes have been packs of 19 for a good while now.

Mayfair, B&H Silver, Marlboro etc are all 20's.

dd68 · 03/06/14 - 00:29

It's a mugs game

Marc_Anthony1 · 03/06/14 - 00:54

Hollie_Louise wrote: »

They better not get rid of menthol I'll be screwed! Packs on 10 I'm not too fussed about though.

My brand have gone down to 19, but cost about 30p less I think. And they say 19 on the packet too.

Pesky EU freaks ban everything. Water will soon face privatisation no doubt. I only like menthol ****. I only smoke socially and occasionally puff on an ecig. Nothing beats a super king menthol for me though

Bulletguy1 · 03/06/14 - 00:55

dearmrman wrote: »

The Government takes the biggest cut, hence the high prices compared to other countries.

Packs of 10 are subject to been banned from 2016 and menthol cigarettes by 2022, providing it gets approved, but most Countries in the EU are in favour so would seem this is likely.

I travel in Europe regularly and the only other country (outside of the UK) that made recent draconian changes has been Hungary. Came into force only last year and i had quite a shock to see what they've done.

All normal outlets such as Garage forecourt stations, Motorway service areas etc, had their shelves emptied. The Government took 42,000 outlets down to just 5,000 by forcing 'licenced' premises on the public. These licenced premises are very peculiar places. Tiny little shops with blacked out windows and doors with a small '18' sign outside. Their external appearance bears a strong resemblance to Sex shops in the UK!

Never seen anything quite so crazy in all my life because now, unless you know precisely where these places are, you have to drive around looking. I imagine their road accident rate will increase but they don't seem to think that's important.

Also as you can read from the two links below, it's been wide open to corruption with licences being handed to those 'currying' political favour.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23146659

http://hungarianspectrum.wordpress.com/2013/09/16/the-troubled-tobacco-shop-concessions/

Worth adding that every other country in Europe has a normal approach to tobacco sales.

Hypnodisc · 03/06/14 - 01:05

Bulletguy1 wrote: »

I travel in Europe regularly and the only other country (outside of the UK) that made recent draconian changes has been Hungary. Came into force only last year and i had quite a shock to see what they've done.

All normal outlets such as Garage forecourt stations, Motorway service areas etc, had their shelves emptied. The Government took 42,000 outlets down to just 5,000 by forcing 'licenced' premises on the public. These licenced premises are very peculiar places. Tiny little shops with blacked out windows and doors with a small '18' sign outside. Their external appearance bears a strong resemblance to Sex shops in the UK!

Never seen anything quite so crazy in all my life because now, unless you know precisely where these places are, you have to drive around looking. I imagine their road accident rate will increase but they don't seem to think that's important.

Also as you can read from the two links below, it's been wide open to corruption with licences being handed to those 'currying' political favour.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23146659

http://hungarianspectrum.wordpress.com/2013/09/16/the-troubled-tobacco-shop-concessions/

Worth adding that every other country in Europe has a normal approach to tobacco sales.

I'm not sure that means it's 'right' though, even if Hungary have gone overboard and gone about regulation the wrong way.

I've always thought it both unusual, hypocritical and bad for public health in that alcohol is way more strictly regulated than tobacco.

Anybody can sell tobacco legally, basically. It's such an 'appallingly lax' system everywhere.

Marc_Anthony1 · 03/06/14 - 01:06

Bulletguy1 wrote: »

I travel in Europe regularly and the only other country (outside of the UK) that made recent draconian changes has been Hungary. Came into force only last year and i had quite a shock to see what they've done.

All normal outlets such as Garage forecourt stations, Motorway service areas etc, had their shelves emptied. The Government took 42,000 outlets down to just 5,000 by forcing 'licenced' premises on the public. These licenced premises are very peculiar places. Tiny little shops with blacked out windows and doors with a small '18' sign outside. Their external appearance bears a strong resemblance to Sex shops in the UK!

Never seen anything quite so crazy in all my life because now, unless you know precisely where these places are, you have to drive around looking. I imagine their road accident rate will increase but they don't seem to think that's important.

Also as you can read from the two links below, it's been wide open to corruption with licences being handed to those 'currying' political favour.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23146659

http://hungarianspectrum.wordpress.com/2013/09/16/the-troubled-tobacco-shop-concessions/

Worth adding that every other country in Europe has a normal approach to tobacco sales.

What a bunch of ridiculous weirdos. How bizarre...
Edit: just read your last link. That is pretty funny. Most of the people I know try and smoke **** or tobacco from people who have been on holiday or buy from a cash n carry. The losses the Hungarian government are making brought a smile to my face

Hypnodisc · 03/06/14 - 01:20

Marc_Anthony1 wrote: »

What a bunch of ridiculous weirdos. How bizarre...
Edit: just read your last link. That is pretty funny. Most of the people I know try and smoke **** or tobacco from people who have been on holiday or buy from a cash n carry. The losses the Hungarian government are making brought a smile to my face

I don't think it's ridiculous or weird to want greater tobacco control.

It sounds as if the situation in Hungary has been particularly susceptible to corruption - but assuming licences are issued on a normal, neutral basis I fail to see the issue.

Hey there!

Quick Links

Less cigarettes in a pack but same price and packaging?

Comments