It seems to work well; a study of boys and men in Appalachian Ohio found that the participants viewed smokeless tobacco use as a rite of passage in the development of their masculine identity, and a key to acceptance into male social networks. Quick Links. The leading U. Statistics on the topic. It is generally accepted that there is a direct correlation between steep and ad hoc increases in taxes and an increase in illicit sales, with the current sanctions doing little to deter criminals for whom profits from the illegal sale of tobacco remain an appealing prospect. Legislation and subsequent regulation is focused mainly on the introduction of plain packaging, product specific regulation, graphic health warnings on packs, tougher restrictions on smoking in enclosed public places and bans on shops displaying tobacco products at the point of sale.