Health authorities say they're actively investigating multiple complaints of unlicensed tobacco sales in Adelaide. It coincides with fliers landing in letterboxes advertising cheap cigarettes at a business in Adelaide's inner south.
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00:00 The leaflets advertise cigarettes at bargain basement prices, $20 a packet, prompting an
00:08 immediate response from the Health Minister.
00:10 I've asked the public health unit of SA Health to investigate this.
00:14 The flyers were distributed in Forestville this week and point customers to a tobacco
00:18 shop in nearby Unley.
00:21 They advertise 100 cigarettes for $50, as well as tobacco pipes and grinders and cigarette
00:26 papers.
00:27 The ABC has chosen not to show the products being advertised.
00:32 We know cigarettes have a huge harm.
00:34 One of the key reasons that people develop cancer in Australia, one of the leading causes
00:39 of death in Australia, and so that's why there's a whole regime of public health protections
00:44 around them.
00:45 Including bans on publicly distributing unsolicited leaflets featuring tobacco or e-cigarette
00:50 advertising.
00:52 Doing so can lead to fines of up to $10,000.
00:55 I can understand that with cost of living pressures people might be looking for other
01:00 ways of purchasing a product.
01:03 The Cancer Council says more than 1,400 South Australians die every year from tobacco.
01:09 We're a bit shocked to see that there's a promotion out there at the moment, but we
01:13 do know that there are illegal tobacco sales.
01:17 In response to the flyers, SA Health says it's received multiple complaints concerning
01:22 unlicensed tobacco stores.
01:24 It says it's investigating and has provided information to other law enforcement and regulatory
01:29 agencies.
01:31 The ABC does not suggest the shop is selling illegal tobacco.
01:35 The operators were approached for comment.
01:37 [BLANK_AUDIO]