For many years, Dr Simon Chapman and other commentators have waged a public war on cigarettes, bemoaning their effect on human pathology including vascular destruction and horrific lung cancers. (“Cut excise, regain control”, DT, 2718). Increasing taxation and therefore the price of a packet of cigarettes was seen as a sound solution to reduce usage. Sadly, any hypothetical improvement to the health budget from fewer cancers and rotting arteries is now being shifted to the cost of casualties from a crime wave, killing and maiming across the nation’s underworld tobacco outlets. With a 25 per cent drop in tobacco excise tax since 2020, organised crime is profiting by billions. As history repeats itself, the US alcohol prohibition ended when the Great Depression diminished income streams for government and the lucrative tax on alcohol proved too tempting. To restore our valuable excise and put organised crime out of business, are we to simply watch the toxic medical complications of smoking recur? Perhaps it’s time for Simon Chapman to step up with new ideas to help reconcile the current predicament. His initial solutions worked well. It is surely time for an update in the light of a criminal takeover of his area of specialty. Alan Sexton, North Parramatta 28/8/2026
