MEPs' bid to align taxes on tobacco sure to fail

EUROPEAN Commission officials have indicated that a bid by MEPs to force the UK to align its tobacco taxes with those of its closest EU neighbours is almost certain to fail.Critics warn this means that the booming UK black market for tobacco products is likely to continue growing, depriving British retailers of more than 148 million ecu in revenues every year as smugglers take advantage of the huge disparity between UK and continental tobacco prices.An estimated 80% of handrolling tobacco and 5% of cigarettes consumed in the UK are smuggled into the country from mainland Europe.