Booze and fags

[Airspeed]

Do other countries have the same problems as Australia? We have illegal (untaxed) cigarettes, tobacco and spirits, all flogged by organised crime, mainly based overseas.
Outlets are constantly firebombed. Recent tests have turned up toxic additives.
So, how about your home?

[blanston12]

I did a quick comparison of the taxes comparing Australia to my home state of California. Here is what Google told me.

Cigarette Taxes

Australia: The federal government applies an excise of $1.53 AUD per stick (over $30 AUD tax per pack of 20). Combined with GST and retail margins, a legal pack costs upwards of $40 to $50 AUD, making Australia one of the most expensive places to smoke globally.
California: The state excise is $0.1435 per cigarette, which equals $2.87 USD per pack of 20. When factoring in the state/local sales tax and the federal tax ($1.01 USD), a typical pack of name-brand cigarettes averages around $10 to $11 USD.

Alcohol Taxes

Australia: Taxes are highly volumetric, meaning stronger beverages incur much higher duties. Spirits are taxed at a massive $107.99 AUD per litre of pure alcohol. Beer excises range from $33.11 to $63.75 AUD per litre of alcohol. Wine is given special treatment and is taxed at 29% of its wholesale value.
California: California has very low state excise taxes compared to most US states. It charges $0.20 USD per gallon of beer, $0.20 USD per gallon of wine, and $3.30 USD per gallon of distilled spirits.

I am not a smoker, but I though the taxes here were high, but Australia is a different level. I do enjoy a bit the adult beverages and am glad the taxes on it are quite low.

But given how low are taxes are, there is not much incentive to smuggle it into the country, they are into other things that are more lucrative.