ITC says the dealer makes money. As he does indeed. Assuming he sells all single sticks of a Wills, he makes Rs 2 per pack. With stick sales at 60-80 per cent of total sales, he is making a nice packet.
ITC says excise necessitates such pricing. In a lot of products, both pack and unit sales prices are mentioned. A consumer, however maligned he/she might be for smoking, is certainly within rights to ask for a similar thing for cigarettes?
