The amount of cigarettes authorised to be taken out of stores to distributors was more than enough to meet demand, the Customs Department said this afternoon.

The department was reacting to a story in Times of Malta today that cigarette vending machines in various bars and other establishments had run out and were not being replenished as usually happened when Budget Day neared.

Times of Malta also said some Valletta bar owners complained they were disappointing many customers because distributors and wholesalers were not furnishing them with the amount of cigarettes they usually ordered.

The department said that if this was the case, the cigarettes being taken out of the stores were stopping somewhere. It said it would ensure that both the market and the consumer would continue to be served.