According to The Sun report, the UK government may increase tobacco taxes in next week's budget, meaning smokers could potentially see the price of a 20-pack of cigarettes rise to £16.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is planning to increase taxes next week. In recent years, the UK government has been striving to make the country smoke-free, leading to a sharp rise in tobacco prices. Currently, the average price for a pack of 20 cigarettes is around £14.39, while in Germany, the same pack averages only £6.50. However, the cost of nicotine is expected to reach a new high in less than a week. The news of the price increase has caused a stir on social media, with many expressing their concerns on various platforms.
A Facebook user wrote: "Okay, I'm going to quit smoking." Another user reminisced about the past, writing: "I remember when a pack of 10 cigarettes used to cost only £2.15, times have really changed."
The measures are expected to provide the government with approximately £500 million in budget. Many people, both smokers and non-smokers, are angry about the upcoming tobacco price hike. One internet user wrote, "I never smoke, but I can see that the price of a pack of cigarettes could rise to £16. For those who smoke, this is a huge burden."
In addition, industry experts warn that this measure could have unintended consequences. Sarah Connor, from Japan Tobacco International's UK division, stated:
"Unreasonable tobacco taxes fuel illegal sales of tobacco, waste taxpayers' money, and inflate prices."
Life economist Christopher Snowden added, "The government's position on e-cigarettes has become a mess. They claim to want to crackdown on disposable e-cigarettes, but are actually taxing reusable e-liquids. While the government offers free e-cigarettes through the 'Swap to Stop' program, they are making it unaffordable for those willing to pay."
He pointed out, "The government claims it wants to reduce the tax burden, but appears to be eager to tax smoking."
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