Cigarettes to bear the SDPC watermark
By ahgong
@ahgong (10064)
Singapore
September 10, 2008 9:25pm CST
In a bid to counter contraband cigarettes, the Singapore government is going to impose a regulation that all licensed cigarettes in Singapore to bear the "SPDC" mark.
SPDC meaning Singapore Duty Paid Cigarettes.
I first heard of this news over the radio on my commute home. Initially I thought it was a joke. That is till I saw the news later in the evening.
What caught my attention is this "Anyone found buying, selling or smoking cigarettes without the "SDPC" marking could be jailed or fined." 
Wow... So come January first, there is going to be officers walking around checking on the butt that is in your mouth to see if it bears the SDPC marking.
If not, they are going to haul your sorry butt to the court to charge you for buying and smoking contraband cigarettes.
[i]"According to the Tobacco Association (Singapore), contraband cigarettes constitute 18 per cent of market share in Singapore.
It expects the new regulation to increase demand for duty—paid cigarettes, which would help offset the cost of marking every cigarette."[/i]
Wanna bet to see if they do not increase the price of cigarettes?
I am sure they will find some excuse later to justify for the price increase.
Some of the articles can be found here:
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20080910/tap-973-every-cigarette-bear-sdpc-markin-231650b.html
http://938live.sg/portal/site/938Live/menuitem.43735da1634c4377d21b2910618000a0/?vgnextoid=71d52674c9a4c110VgnVCM1000001f0aa8c0RCRD&mcParam=18d2638896593110VgnVCM100000e101000aRCRD
http://www.customs.gov.sg/topNav/new/SDPC+Cigarette+Marking+Regulation.htm
In fact, after the announcement of this new regulation, the radio stations are abuzzed with lots of people talking about it.
I wonder how many people is going to get fined for this come January. I also wonder how much of my tax payer money is going into deploying enforcement officers to check on smokers who are smoking non SDPC marked cigarettes.
Imagine the raids they would have to make on a daily basis on all the night joints!
Sigh...
Wow... So come January first, there is going to be officers walking around checking on the butt that is in your mouth to see if it bears the SDPC marking.
If not, they are going to haul your sorry butt to the court to charge you for buying and smoking contraband cigarettes.
[i]"According to the Tobacco Association (Singapore), contraband cigarettes constitute 18 per cent of market share in Singapore.
It expects the new regulation to increase demand for duty—paid cigarettes, which would help offset the cost of marking every cigarette."[/i]
Wanna bet to see if they do not increase the price of cigarettes?
I am sure they will find some excuse later to justify for the price increase.
Some of the articles can be found here:
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20080910/tap-973-every-cigarette-bear-sdpc-markin-231650b.html
http://938live.sg/portal/site/938Live/menuitem.43735da1634c4377d21b2910618000a0/?vgnextoid=71d52674c9a4c110VgnVCM1000001f0aa8c0RCRD&mcParam=18d2638896593110VgnVCM100000e101000aRCRD
http://www.customs.gov.sg/topNav/new/SDPC+Cigarette+Marking+Regulation.htm
In fact, after the announcement of this new regulation, the radio stations are abuzzed with lots of people talking about it.
I wonder how many people is going to get fined for this come January. I also wonder how much of my tax payer money is going into deploying enforcement officers to check on smokers who are smoking non SDPC marked cigarettes.
Imagine the raids they would have to make on a daily basis on all the night joints!
Sigh...4 people like this
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