Round Town: Local News Benidorm, Alfaz, Altea.

Fake brands are popular souvenirs, after all, back at home in Surrey, who’s to know your new Gucci belt was bought from a ‘looky looky’ man on the street in Benidorm? But when it comes to cheap cigarettes the damage goes way beyond a loss of profits for a reputable company – we’re talking major health issues and that’s a souvenir you don’t want to take home.

Roundtown spoke to Antonio and Marta who work for Eurotobaco in Benidorm to get the low down on the ingredients and just how damaging these contraband goods can be.

“We don’t know exactly what goes into the tobacco” said Antonio “although they are usually made with a mix of plants and manure, and have even been found to contain 75% more tar, 63% more carbon monoxide and 28% more nicotine. What we do know for sure is that these products don’t pass quality control and they are produced underground”

Most of the contraband goods come from China, hidden amongst other ‘valid’ imports such as clothing. The cartons and packets look identical to the real thing.  “Perhaps the only tell tale sign to recognize a fake is to check the inside the fold of the pack, since only the real manufacturers use glue to seal the packets.” adds Marta.

But of course the best way to be sure you’re buying the real thing is to purchase your cigarettes form a tobacconists. Tabacco prices are regulated by the state in Spain so anything being sold cheaper or anywhere other than a tobacconists is usually a dead give away.

The symptoms of fake fags

Symptoms of smoking fake fags range from headaches to sore throats and in severe cases swollen tongues. So if you are one of the many who fund their trips to Benidorm by carrying a stash of fags for others; do the right thing at purchase them at a recognized outlet like Eurotabaco. The wrath you’ll have to face if your mate’s tongue swells up won’t compensate the few euros you saved buying dodgy fags from ‘Bully’s Bar’!

About Eurotabaco

Eurotobaco belong to the mother company Eurochange where you can change money for the best rate. They have four stores in Benidorm (see locations on map on page 21) including their flagship store on the corner of Juan fuster Zaragoza street just down form the Hotel Regente where you can purchase all your duty free items, including low priced alcohol, cartons of cigarettes, tobacco and much more. They also have lots of ‘buy this get this free’ offers too – which is why the Eurotabaco store claims to be ‘probably the biggest tobacco shop in the world’ selling literally thousands of cartons of cigarettes every week to locals and to the holidaymakers who can now legally take dozens of cartons home on the plane.

If you want to keep up with news in the tobacco world, check out the Eurotabaco website www.eurochange.es or find them on facebook.com/eurochangebenidorm

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