Fine-cut sales on a roll in Iceland

Sales of loose tobacco in Iceland were 34 per cent higher during the first nine months of this year than they were during January-September 2011, according to an Iceland Review story quoting data from the State Alcohol and Tobacco Company of Iceland.

At the same time, sales in cigarettes, the prices of which have risen to more than ISK1,000 a pack, have decreased.

The Review said that while consuming loose tobacco instead of cigarettes so as to save money was common abroad, the trend was relatively new inIceland.

But, according to the Morgunblaðið newspaper, hand-rolled cigarettes are only half the price of factory-made cigarettes.