REEP is an accredited research unit within the University of Cape Town's School of Economics, under the directorship of Prof. Corné van Walbeek. The unit focuses its research on economic aspects related to a variety of excisable products, specifically tobacco, alcohol and sugar-sweetened beverages. While we are not a lobby group, our focus is on public health. We never have, and never will, accept money from the tobacco, alcohol or soft drink industries. Our focus to date has primarily been on tobacco through the Economics of Tobacco Control Programme (ETCP) which aims to expand current research efforts in the economics of tobacco control, and to enhance the knowledge of economic and tax issues among tobacco control advocates and policymakers, to strengthen support for tobacco tax and price increases in low- and middle-income countries. Closely associated with the ETCP is the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Knowledge Hub on Tobacco Taxation and Illicit Trade. Whereas the ETCP has a strong academic focus, the primary focus of the Knowledge Hub is on dissemination and policy support. Our research is currently funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) through the African Capacity Building Foundation, Cancer Research UK, the International Development Research Centre, the World Health Organization and the South African Medical Research Council.