Imperial last week reported a 17% rise in profits for the six months to March 2002-the first growth in the duty-paid UK cigarette market for a decade.
He is accused of giving in to Customs & Excise, which wants a physical means of identifying duty-paid products.
The concession was made in part to help wholesalers offset the cost of putting UK duty-paid stamps on bottles, now required by the Government in an attempt to stamp out cross-Channel bootleggers.
Duty free has ended, of course, but French and other countries' duty-paid prices are much cheaper than those in the UK with £7.99 champagne and £1.99 and £2.99 red and white table wines aplenty.
You're entitled to bring back as much duty-paid alcohol and tobacco as you want for your personal use.
The penalty can be as much as three times the duty-paid value of the goods.
The buying of a duty paid car in Cyprus does not have any complications as long as you obtain current insurance, a driving license, and a vehicle license.
Independents are divided over Customs and Excise proposals to put a duty paid stamp on spirits.