UK cigarette prices set to soar in Spring Budget

Mar.17.2023
UK cigarette prices set to soar in Spring Budget
UK tobacco tax increase raises prices for smokers, with 20-pack cigarettes now costing over £14 due to a 12% rise.

According to reports, British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, has increased the tobacco tax in the spring budget.


After the increase in tobacco tax, the price of a pack of 20 cigarettes will exceed £14, adding further strain to the budgets of over six million smokers in the UK.


The cigarette tax will increase by 10.1% based on the retail price index, plus an additional 2%.


The price of hand-rolled cigarettes will increase by an additional 6% on top of the existing retail price index of 10.1%.


According to data from the UK's National Statistics Office, the current average price for a pack of 20 cigarettes is £12.84 (approximately RMB 107). Therefore, a 12% price increase would bring the cost to £14.38 (approximately RMB 120), resulting in an extra £1.54 (approximately RMB 12.8) per pack.


The last time cigarette prices increased was in October 2021. The rise in tobacco prices is part of the UK's plan to achieve a smoke-free goal by 2030.


Reference:


Smokers face bad news as the Budget results in a significant increase in the price of cigarettes.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

Ukrainian Lawmaker Proposes Ban on Vapes, Heated Tobacco Devices and Hookahs for Under-17s
Ukrainian Lawmaker Proposes Ban on Vapes, Heated Tobacco Devices and Hookahs for Under-17s
Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada has registered a bill that would ban the use of tobacco products, vapes, hookahs, herbal smoking mixtures and heated tobacco devices by people under 17. The bill was introduced by People’s Deputy Georgiy Mazurashu and has already been sent to the relevant parliamentary committee. The author said one reason for the initiative is the prevalence of vaping among adolescents.
Apr.28 by 2FIRSTS.ai
EVO NXT 2026 Opens in Prague as Global NGP Industry Gathers for Two-Day Event
EVO NXT 2026 Opens in Prague as Global NGP Industry Gathers for Two-Day Event
2026 — EVO NXT 2026 officially opened today in Prague, bringing together manufacturers, brand owners, retailers, and decision-makers from across the global next-generation products (NGP) industry. As the event’s official media partner for the fourth consecutive year, 2Firsts is reporting on site, tracking key developments across the exhibition floor, forum agenda, and broader industry discussions.
Apr.17 by 2FIRSTS.ai
New Movement Emerges on EU Tobacco Excise Directive as Cyprus Tables Compromise Draft
New Movement Emerges on EU Tobacco Excise Directive as Cyprus Tables Compromise Draft
The long-stalled debate over the European Union’s Tobacco Excise Directive may be moving forward, with Cyprus, as holder of the EU Council presidency, putting forward a compromise draft. The reported proposal includes lowering the minimum excise duty requirement and granting a transitional period, with the aim of reaching political agreement by June 2026. The revision also covers e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, nicotine pouches and stronger controls on raw tobacco.
Apr.21 by 2FIRSTS.ai
2Firsts Data|China Vape Exports Sink to Three-Year April Low After Tax Rebate Ends, Falling to $694 Million
2Firsts Data|China Vape Exports Sink to Three-Year April Low After Tax Rebate Ends, Falling to $694 Million
China’s e-cigarette export value declined to $694 million in April 2026, marking the lowest April level in the past three years. The data is notable because April was the first full month after China removed export VAT rebates for certain e-cigarette products. Compared with April 2025, export value fell 20.9%; compared with April 2024, it was down 22.3%. Month-on-month, exports dropped 23.2% from March 2026.
Special Report
May.23
    Shenzhen Tobacco Monopoly Bureau Moves to Advance E-Cigarette Regulatory System 2.0
Shenzhen Tobacco Monopoly Bureau Moves to Advance E-Cigarette Regulatory System 2.0
The Shenzhen Tobacco Monopoly Bureau recently held the city’s 2026 e-cigarette regulation work conference to implement higher-level meeting requirements, review the city’s e-cigarette regulatory work in 2025 and during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, assess the current situation, and deploy the rollout of E-cigarette Regulatory System 2.0 across Shenzhen’s tobacco commercial system.
Apr.28 by 2FIRSTS.ai
PMI U.S. White Paper Calls for Greater Access to FDA-Authorized Smoke-Free Alternatives and Risk-Based Taxation
PMI U.S. White Paper Calls for Greater Access to FDA-Authorized Smoke-Free Alternatives and Risk-Based Taxation
PMI’s U.S. business released a white paper and cited a national online survey showing that 79.00% of Americans surveyed believe more should be done to reduce smoking-related harm. The paper calls on policymakers, public health authorities, and medical professionals to place cigarette smoking back at the center of public health priorities, and recommends broader access to FDA-authorized smoke-free alternatives, clearer nicotine risk communication, and risk-based taxation.
Apr.15 by 2FIRSTS.ai