The price of cigarettes in the United Kingdom has substantially increased each year since 2000. In 2022, the average retail price of a 20 pack of cigarettes was 12.61 British pounds.
Cigarette taxes
As of 2022, the most expensive country in which to purchase cigarettes in Europe was Ireland, with the UK in second place. Cigarette prices across Europe are driven by the respective taxes imposed within each of the member states and consist of a specific duty per thousand cigarettes and an ad valorem rate onto the recommended retail price, in addition to value added tax (VAT). Thus, the highest rates of taxation are reflected in the retail prices. Governments that impose such strong barriers to the purchasing of tobacco are considered 'nanny states', with high levels of control on other factors, such as advertising, bans of tobacco products on retail displays and graphic warnings on cigarette packs.
UK tobacco industry
The sales of tobacco in the UK has generally been decreasing since 2005. As of 2022, the annual expenditure was at about 21.3 billion British pounds, marking an overall decrease of over 40 percent compared to expenditure in 2005. However, despite the high taxes in the UK and the decrease in expenditure, the revenue of the tobacco industry is expected to grow in coming years. By 2027, the tobacco products market is forecast to have a revenue of about 25.6 billion British pounds.
Average retail price of a typical pack of 20 cigarettes in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2000 to 2022
(in GBP)
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Office for National Statistics (UK). (January 18, 2023). Average retail price of a typical pack of 20 cigarettes in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2000 to 2022 (in GBP) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved August 25, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/414973/cigarette-prices-in-the-united-kingdom/
Office for National Statistics (UK). "Average retail price of a typical pack of 20 cigarettes in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2000 to 2022 (in GBP)." Chart. January 18, 2023. Statista. Accessed August 25, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/414973/cigarette-prices-in-the-united-kingdom/
Office for National Statistics (UK). (2023). Average retail price of a typical pack of 20 cigarettes in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2000 to 2022 (in GBP). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: August 25, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/414973/cigarette-prices-in-the-united-kingdom/
Office for National Statistics (UK). "Average Retail Price of a Typical Pack of 20 Cigarettes in The United Kingdom (Uk) from 2000 to 2022 (in Gbp)." Statista, Statista Inc., 18 Jan 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/414973/cigarette-prices-in-the-united-kingdom/
Office for National Statistics (UK), Average retail price of a typical pack of 20 cigarettes in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2000 to 2022 (in GBP) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/414973/cigarette-prices-in-the-united-kingdom/ (last visited August 25, 2024)
Average retail price of a typical pack of 20 cigarettes in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2000 to 2022 (in GBP) [Graph], Office for National Statistics (UK), January 18, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/414973/cigarette-prices-in-the-united-kingdom/