So-called sin taxes on products including alcohol and tobacco have made the UK Treasury lose tax revenue of more than ￡31 billion in the past five years, reported The Telegraph. Campaign group the Taxpayers’ Alliance said that high taxes simply promote the growth of black markets, which it blames for the loss in tax revenue. A report released by the group estimates that the UK government lost out on ￡13.9 billion in revenue between 2010 and 2015 due to the illicit trade in cigarettes alone.