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.

NielsenIQ and Goldman Sachs Data Show Smokeless Was the Only Growing Major U.S. Nicotine Category
NielsenIQ and Goldman Sachs Data Show Smokeless Was the Only Growing Major U.S. Nicotine Category
NielsenIQ and Goldman Sachs data show U.S. smokeless nicotine product sales rose more than 8% year over year in the 52 weeks ended May 30, making it the only major nicotine category to record growth.
Market
Jun.23
China Tobacco Hubei Industrial Patent Discloses Nicotine Tooth Patch for Fixed Oral Delivery
China Tobacco Hubei Industrial Patent Discloses Nicotine Tooth Patch for Fixed Oral Delivery
According to Chinese patent records, a “nicotine tooth patch” application filed by China Tobacco Hubei Industrial Corporation (CTHB) and Hubei Xinye Tobacco Sheet Development Co., Ltd. was published on May 19, 2026. The filing proposes a nicotine gel patch that adheres to the tooth surface, especially the lingual side, to reduce displacement, foreign-body sensation, and accidental swallowing risks associated with existing oral nicotine products.
Jun.10
Japan Tobacco Q1 2026 Financial Results: Revenue at $5.914 Billion,RRP Revenue Up 63.8% YoY
Japan Tobacco Q1 2026 Financial Results: Revenue at $5.914 Billion,RRP Revenue Up 63.8% YoY
Japanese Tobacco (JT) reports Q1 2026 revenue of 924 billion yen, a 15.2% increase; operating profit rises 24.7%.
May.08 by 2FIRSTS.ai
South Korea Brings Synthetic-Nicotine E-Cigarettes Under Tobacco Rules From June 24, Targeting Online Sales and Evasion
South Korea Brings Synthetic-Nicotine E-Cigarettes Under Tobacco Rules From June 24, Targeting Online Sales and Evasion
South Korea began full enforcement of tobacco-style rules for synthetic-nicotine e-cigarettes on June 24, 2026, with fines of up to 100,000 won for use in non-smoking areas and enforcement focus on online sales, raw nicotine liquids and products falsely marketed as nicotine-free.
MarketNews
Jun.25 by 2Firsts Perspectives
BofA: U.S. Nicotine Market Splits as Vapor Sales Fall 17.2% and Oral Tobacco Rises 5.8%
BofA: U.S. Nicotine Market Splits as Vapor Sales Fall 17.2% and Oral Tobacco Rises 5.8%
According to Investing.com citing Bank of America scanner data for the four weeks ending May 30, U.S. nicotine category performance was mixed, with cigarette, vapor and cigar sales declining while oral tobacco sales rose 5.8%.
Jun.10
Special Report|U.S.-Facing Retailer Lists RELX Creator Pro 15K: A Chinese Brand Signal Under FDA’s Lower-Priority Enforcement Window
Special Report|U.S.-Facing Retailer Lists RELX Creator Pro 15K: A Chinese Brand Signal Under FDA’s Lower-Priority Enforcement Window
Vapesourcing has listed RELX Creator Pro 15K as “Coming Soon” with U.S. warehouse shipping options; while the page does not show that RELX has entered the U.S. market through official channels or that the product has received FDA authorization, the listing suggests that Chinese brand-led ENDS products are becoming a new point of observation as the U.S. market reassesses regulatory risk following the FDA’s updated enforcement-priority policy.
Industry Insight
Jun.11