On May 27, 3:59 am, "Aidy"  wrote:

> > Why? When a new car, fridge, light bulb, toothpaste etc, comes out the
> > manufactures don't try to sneak them onto the black market!
>
> On the contrary, fake good and low quality goods often make it onto the
> black market to avoid regulation.

"Fake goods" are goods that violate somebody's trademark ... and since
there is no evidence of significant black markets in e.g. fake
Finlandia vodka or Marlboro cigarettes, there is no reason to expect
black markets in name-brand recreational drugs.

As for low quality goods: provide evidence for your claim that there
are significant black markets in low quality cars, fridges, light
bulbs, or toothpaste.

In article ,
m_p@rocketmail.com (M_P) wrote:

> *From:* M_P 
> *Date:* Tue, 27 May 2008 09:04:23 -0700 (PDT)
> 
> On May 27, 3:59 am, "Aidy"  wrote:
> 
> > > Why? When a new car, fridge, light bulb, toothpaste etc, comes 
> > out the
> > > manufactures don't try to sneak them onto the black market!
> >
> > On the contrary, fake good and low quality goods often make it 
> > onto the
> > black market to avoid regulation.
> 
> "Fake goods" are goods that violate somebody's trademark ... and 
> since
> there is no evidence of significant black markets in e.g. fake
> Finlandia vodka or Marlboro cigarettes, there is no reason to expect
> black markets in name-brand recreational drugs.
I have seen container loads of fake cigarettes-each one has a £1millon of duty on
them. The really bad stuff tends to get sold in Scotland. There is a fair quantity
of fake vodka as well. Your own opinions are fine, your own facts are not so good!
There is a substantial market in fake viagra and in fake pharmaceuticals
> 
> As for low quality goods: provide evidence for your claim that there
> are significant black markets in low quality cars, fridges, light
> bulbs, or toothpaste.
>

Noticed at Thu, 29 May 2008 22:29:00 +0100: Claude informed us:

> I have seen container loads of fake cigarettes-each one has a £1millon
> of duty on them. The really bad stuff tends to get sold in Scotland.
> There is a fair quantity of fake vodka as well. Your own opinions are
> fine, your own facts are not so good!

But what percentage of total sales are these?

I've never seen fake cigarettes, but I've frequently seen black market
cigarettes and tobacco that are either stolen or smuggled in from the
continent. These are identical to the products sold in shops, apart
from the language of the health warnings. Booze is very cheap in
supermarkets these days.

> There is a substantial market in fake viagra and in fake pharmaceuticals

My e-mail junk file is full of adverts for those :-). Do they actually
contain dangerous substances or contaminants, or are they just generics?

-- 
Dr John Watson
Baker Street