The classic Tchick continues to cause the large influx to tobacconists. But the power of the blue haze is waning and new replacement products are slowly conquering the market.
“Are you still cheating, or are you already steaming?” A perfectly normal question and yet also a bit of a religious war in the local fagot scene. Because conservative smokers are increasingly falling behind with the arrival of e-cigarettes or vaporizers, pouches (nicotine bags) and hots including IQOS (tobacco heater). Above all, the health factor dwarfs the case for harmful cigarette and cigar smoke.
“Customer structure is changing”
Cigarette sales are already falling by one to two percentage points per year. Although there are no long-term studies on the so-called New Generation Products (NGP) yet, things are still going well in the 2273 red-white-red tobacconists. Tobacco shop Wolfgang Strissnig: “Of course, traditional tobacco remains our main source of income, but the customer structure is changing and we keep up with the times,” explains the Carinthian.
NGPs currently account for only about 12 percent of total sales (see chart) of ‘sensitive luxury goods’, but the trend is strongly upward. This also attracts criminal gangs.
Monopolization as protection against abuse
Especially the import of bags with overly strong ingredients and foreign cheap replicas of steamers & Co. concern the monopoly administration: “Only the tobacconists can guarantee that the protection of minors is respected and that the quality of the products is guaranteed. We do not want to see these products in the supermarket or at a stall at the border,” says manager Hannes Hofer .
In the future, politicians would therefore like to see clear regulations for the popular nicotine pouches. True to the motto: good framework conditions help our tobacconists and protect our youth.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
