UK Finance Minister Plans Record Tobacco Tax Hike

Feb.24.2023
UK Finance Minister Plans Record Tobacco Tax Hike
UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt plans the largest tobacco tax increase in history, raising a pack by £1.15.

Recently, according to the Daily Mail, Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the UK, is planning to implement the biggest tobacco tax increase in British history.


According to reports, Hunter will officially release the budget proposal on March 15th, which includes a tobacco tax increase. A pack of 20 cigarettes will increase by £1.15 (approximately RMB 9.5), representing an increase of over 15%.


Although tobacco taxes usually increase with inflation, some smokers in the UK are hoping the government will temporarily delay the implementation of this decision due to the current high level of inflation.


The tobacco tax has generated nearly £11 billion in revenue for the government, representing 1.2% of all tax revenue for the year. Britain aims to reduce the proportion of smokers in the population to below 5% by the end of the century.


Earlier this year, a public opinion poll revealed that most British people wish to immediately ban the sale of cigarettes. According to a survey conducted by MailOnline, 52% of respondents support a "complete" ban on purchasing cigarettes, while 31% "strongly" support a ban on their sale.


The findings of the survey could provide legislators and health experts with more confidence that public opinion is nearing a crucial moment in favor of a smoking ban. It is reported that the UK previously implemented a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants in 2006 and 2007.


References:


Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is reportedly considering increasing the tax on tobacco in line with inflation, resulting in a £1.15 rise in the price of a pack of cigarettes, according to sources. The potential move is expected to be announced in next month's budget.



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.

Vuse Alto Adds New U.S. Price Tier as BAT Pushes Deeper Into Mass-Market Vaping
Vuse Alto Adds New U.S. Price Tier as BAT Pushes Deeper Into Mass-Market Vaping
British American Tobacco (BAT) subsidiary Vuse Alto has recently adjusted its price tiers in U.S. convenience store channels, leveraging low-cost device kits and pod promotions to reinforce its positioning in the mid-priced closed-system e-cigarette market.
Jun.17
South Korea’s Cigarette Smoking Rate Falls to 17.9%, E-Cigarette Use Continues to Rise
South Korea’s Cigarette Smoking Rate Falls to 17.9%, E-Cigarette Use Continues to Rise
Data released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) showed South Korea’s conventional cigarette smoking rate fell to 17.9% in 2025, while heated tobacco and liquid e-cigarette use continued to rise, particularly among young adults and women.
Jun.01
WIRED Investigation: Chinese-Made Vapes Turn to 6-Methyl-Nicotine and Other Analogs, Challenging U.S. Regulation
WIRED Investigation: Chinese-Made Vapes Turn to 6-Methyl-Nicotine and Other Analogs, Challenging U.S. Regulation
U.S. technology and investigative publication WIRED has examined how nicotine analogs are emerging as a new challenge for the country’s vape regulatory framework. The article argues that after the U.S. expanded federal oversight of nicotine products in 2022, some manufacturers began using nicotine-like compounds such as 6-methyl-nicotine that may fall outside existing definitions. Researchers cited by WIRED said some nicotine analogs could be more potent than traditional nicotine, although human health impacts remain unclear. U.S. policymakers are considering broader definitions of nicotine to bring these compounds under federal oversight.
Jul.27
Germany Seizes 56 Pallets of Illegal Vapes, Probe Estimates €1.8 Million Tax Loss
Germany Seizes 56 Pallets of Illegal Vapes, Probe Estimates €1.8 Million Tax Loss
German authorities have seized dozens of pallets of illegal disposable vapes in a criminal investigation, with the products estimated to have caused at least €1.8 million in tax losses. The case has also raised concerns over cross-border supply chains linked to unauthorized nicotine products entering the European market.
Jul.14
Product | ZAR Launches Coffee AirPouch, Expanding Pouch Format Into Caffeine Products
Product | ZAR Launches Coffee AirPouch, Expanding Pouch Format Into Caffeine Products
ZAR has introduced Coffee AirPouch, a nicotine-free caffeine pouch product that extends the brand’s AirPouch format into the functional consumer category. Each pouch contains 50mg of natural caffeine and features a coffee flavor, highlighting how pouch-based products are expanding beyond traditional nicotine applications into broader lifestyle and energy-use scenarios.
Market
Jul.13 by 2Firsts Perspectives
Sesh touts independence, 8VC backing and retail reach as it challenges tobacco-owned pouch brands
Sesh touts independence, 8VC backing and retail reach as it challenges tobacco-owned pouch brands
U.S. nicotine pouch brand Sesh has emphasized its independence from Altria, Philip Morris International and British American Tobacco, along with backing from investors including 8VC, celebrity supporters and a retail footprint of more than 7,500 stores, as it seeks to differentiate itself in a market where major pouch brands are owned by large tobacco companies.
Regulations
Jul.07 by 2Firsts Perspectives