Today’s tobacco and snuff packs will be too big for travelers if the government gets its way. It is a step forward.
This is a leader. The leader expresses the position of VG. The political editor of VG responds to the leader.One of the proposals the Støre government is making in the state budget for next year is a tightening of the tax-free quota.
Today it is possible to bring various goods into the country duty free. 1 liter of spirits, 1.5 liters of wine and 2 liters of beer are allowed. Plus 250 grams of tobacco or 200 cigarettes.
Now the government is proposing to halve the tobacco quota. This means that today’s tobacco cartons in duty-free shops will be too big. Therefore, manufacturers have to adapt.
We think it makes sense to tighten this exchange and would rather see it completely cut off, as several committees have recommended.
Why should we maintain a system that rewards frequent business travelers at the expense of the Norwegian treasury, the environment and the existence of Vinmonopolet?
For duty-free trade, those who travel more subsidize. In other words, those who can afford to travel a lot, or who have travel expenses paid for by their employer.
Climate-wise, it is also completely backward to give people extra benefits because they choose to travel abroad.
According to The “Norway towards 2025” committee. which was in favor of the removal of the regime, the duty-free regime has “unfortunate climatic and environmental effects, as it helps to reduce ticket prices, so that air traffic and emissions are higher than they would otherwise be”.
In terms of health, it is also completely foolish to have a scheme that encourages people to buy alcohol and tobacco at lower prices.
And the fact that it is cheaper at airports affects domestic trade.
When the scheme is not demolished in its entirety, we think it is a good step to strengthen it.
Even the red-green government has done so in the past. From 1 January this year the possibility of exchanging tobacco for alcohol has been removed. It was a scheme introduced by the Solberg government in 2014.
It is argued that the problem is that Avinor’s operation of Norwegian airports depends on revenue from duty-free sales. And that partly finances the deficit of several small and medium-sized airports.
But the operating deficit of airports must be taken into account in relation to the reduction in the income the state receives from the loss of VAT and taxes.
Just by halving the tobacco share, the state budget estimates an increase in revenue of NOK 800 million.
It’s just money. It will be even more so if the whole scheme is closed.
