Price of cigarettes rises to more than £14 a pack after Chancellor hikes tobacco tax

Smoking is now more expensive than ever after the Chancellor hiked tobacco tax as part of his Autumn budget, rising the cost of cigarettes to their highest ever prices.

As of 6pm last night, duty rates on tobacco products increased by the rate of RPI inflation plus 2%. The rate on hand-rolling tobacco also increased by RPI inflation plus 6%.

This means a pack of twenty cigarettes that currently cost £12.73 will go up to £13.60, or a pack costing £13.50 spotted by The Mirror will rise by 93p to £14.43, while the cost of a 30g bag of tobacco will jump by 89p from £8.14 to £9.02.

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However, while the move has been applauded by many who advocate against the toxic habit – which has been proven to be the primary cause of a range of illnesses such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes – others have slammed the price rise, saying it is discriminatory against those from poorer backgrounds.

Simon Clark, director of the smokers’ lobby group Forest, said as per The Mirror: “Smokers are sick and tired of being targeted every year with above inflation increases in tobacco duty.

“The majority of smokers come from poorer backgrounds.

“Many have suffered financially as a result of the pandemic and should not have to face yet another increase in the cost of tobacco at a time when they can least afford it.”

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The Chancellor’s tax hike comes shortly after campaigners proposed for ‘smoking kills’ to be printed on individual cigarettes.

Last week, MPs submitted an amendment to the health and care bill going through parliament which would allow the health secretary to make graphic health warnings mandatory.

Mary Kelly Foy, the Labour MP behind the move, said, as per The Guardian: “We know that cigarettes are cancer sticks and kill half the people who use them. So I hope that health warnings on cigarettes would deter people from being tempted to smoke in the first place, especially young people.

“I hope it would encourage some smokers to give up because if they are putting that in their mouth and seeing that message on cigarettes every time they smoke, I hope it would have the desired effect.”