Nunavut tobacco sales drop 2.9%

The Government of Nunavut is reporting a drop in tobacco sales of almost three per cent between March and November 2012.

The drop of 2.9 per cent represents more than 24,000 packs of smokes or 600,000 cigarettes. Sales of chewing tobacco also dropped by almost 800,000 grams.

The government estimates the decrease in sales saved Nunavummiut more than $750,000.

The Government of Nunavut launched its Tobacco Has No Place Here campaign in January 2012. 

Taxes on cigarettes also went up last year by $1 a pack.

The GN plans to spend $2.5 million per year starting in 2013-14 on its tobacco reduction framework.