LABUAN: Empty cigarette shelves in coffee shops and groceries are becoming a common sight here, reflecting the impact of the revoked duty-free tobacco in Labuan, which took effect mid last year.
A coffee shop owner, Ah Khoon, said he was no longer keen on retailing cigarettes because sales were slow due to fewer buyers, small profit margin and had to pay cash to the supplier on delivery.
The shelves used to be filled with an array of cigarette brands such as Dunhill, Marlboro and Winston, and what remains are the price tags of cigarettes depending on the brand.