DAMMAM, 21 December — Prices of various brands of cigarettes have gone up by nearly 20 percent although there was no official announcement in this regard.
Many supermarkets and shopping centers were charging SR1 more on the packets of popular American and British brands like Marlboro, Rothmans, Benson & Hedges and Dunhill.
Previously a pack of 20 cigarettes was sold for SR5 but yesterday many shops in Dammam and Alkhobar were selling them at SR6.
However, prices remained unchanged at large supermarkets and shopping centers. The explanation given by those who have increased the price was that the big shops have old stocks and once new stocks reach their shelves, they too will increase the price.
A counter salesman at one supermarket said that the actual increase would be more than 50 percent once new stocks arrive.
Since most of the distributors are still closed for Eid holiday, it was not possible to verify the authenticity of price increase.
Prices of cigarettes in the Kingdom have remained unchanged for nearly four years. The last increase was in 1998 when prices were hiked by nearly 45 percent.
The government is considering tough laws to curb smoking. It has already banned smoking in government offices and other public places like airports, railway stations, schools and hospitals.
Smoking is also not allowed on domestic flights as well as on trains and buses. The government recently banned the circulation of foreign journals and newspapers carrying tobacco advertisements.
