New EPICENTER research covering 28 countries shows a clear statistical link: every €1 tax-driven price increase expands the black-market share by 5–12 percentage points. Countries such as France, the UK, Greece and Ireland have seen illicit trade soar after major tax hikes, while legal sales collapse and smoking prevalence barely budges. The result is lost revenue, stronger criminal networks and thousands of self-employed tobacconists across Europe at risk.