UK Cigarette Sales Halved in Three Years

Combustible tobacco sales plummet by 47%

Researchers from the University of Edinburgh analyzed sales data from nearly 1,400 convenience stores across Scotland, England, and Wales, comparing the sales figures from March, June, September, and December 2016 to the same periods in 2019. The results showed a 47% decrease in combustible tobacco sales over three years, with tobacco-only transactions falling from 11% to 6%, and sales containing a mix of tobacco products and other items dropping from 14% to 9%. The average weekly sales declined by 16% between 2016 and 2019. Professor Jamie Pearce from the University's School of GeoSciences suggests these findings indicate the need for a new business model, supported by the increasing sales of e-cigarettes during the same period. 

E-cig ban causes relapse, study shows

A recent US study published in the scientific journal Value in Health also found that vaping bans led to higher cigarette sales, with Massachusetts experiencing a 7.5% higher-than-expected per capita cigarette sales after implementing a full vape ban. 

UK and NZ have coma a long way in smoke cessation

The UK and New Zealand recommend vaping products as smoking cessation tools, resulting in lower smoking rates of 13.8% in the UK and 10.9% in New Zealand. New Zealand's government launched a vape awareness campaign in 2020, leading to a reduction in smoking rates from 13.7% to 10.9% within a year.

Reference:

Sales of Combustible Tobacco Products Drop by Half in Three Years

Also read: 

UK Health Minister's Speech on Vape

New Zealand Smoking Rate Hits Record Low
The Latest Study Linking Vapes to Smoking Cessation