Illegal cigarettes threaten hundreds of Galway jobs
Hundreds of jobs in small retailers are under threat from the proliferation of smuggled and counterfeit cigarettes in Galway City, a newsagents’ representative group has claimed.
Stephen Daly, who owns Happy Days in the Galway Shopping Centre and has taken over as the President of the Convenience Stores and Newsagents’ Association (CSNA), told the Galway City Tribune that illegal tobacco is a “huge” threat to jobs.
“It’s a huge threat, and is costing jobs in the sector. Tobacco sales are such an important part of our business, probably the biggest part after newspaper and magazine sales.
“If people aren’t coming into the shop for their 20 cigarettes, then they’re not buying their other bits and pieces, where we make our money.
“Every retailer is struggling, but illegal tobacco is putting a huge strain on the business. We’ve already had to downsize our staff in recent years,” said Mr Daly.
He said the lack of deterrent to cigarette smuggles – a fine averaging €1,600 – was the biggest issue.
“It’s farcical what they can get away with. There’s no deterrent,” said Mr Daly.
For more on this story, see the current issue of the Galway City Tribune