Cigarette, liquor sales dip at sari-sari stores due to price hikes

Sari-sari stores in the Philippines experienced lower sales of cigarettes and liquor in 2024 due to rising prices.

Packworks, a tech startup with data from its Sari IQ tool, reported that combined cigarette sales of Marlboro, Mighty, and Winston dropped by 12% to P392 million in gross merchandise value (GMV).

Tanduay Rum and Emperador brandy sales also declined by 17%, resulting in a GMV of P102 million.

Sari-sari store owner Anabel Desuyo attributed the drop in sales to high inflation and increased prices, affecting customer purchasing power.

The Sin Tax Reform Law raised tobacco taxes by 5% starting in 2024 and imposed a 22% ad valorem tax on distilled spirits like rum, contributing to reduced sales.