Cigarettes and alcohol to cost more at airports in Oman

Muscat: Cigarettes and alcohol will cost more at airports in Oman as Royal Oman Police (ROP) has amended its customs provisions to levy 100 per cent service charge for the products.
The decision ROP decision 38/2017, issued last month by Lt Gen Hassan bin Mohsen al Shuraiqi, IG of Police and Customs, outlined changes in the customs provisions, including levying of 100 per cent service charge on such products.
Article 6 of the WHO Convention, encourages parties to adopt tax and price policies including restricting sales and importations of tax- and duty-free tobacco products to control use.
“Effective taxes on tobacco products that lead to higher real consumer prices (inflation-adjusted) are desirable because they lower consumption and prevalence, and thereby in turn reduce mortality and morbidity and improve the health of the population. Increasing tobacco taxes is particularly important for protecting young people from initiating or continuing tobacco consumption,” the Article adds.