In the UK, a pack (pack of 20 cigarettes) currently costs £14, which will rise to £16 in 2026.
A recent study found that one in four adults in the UK is interested in quitting as the price of cigarettes rises.
In this study conducted on nearly 6,000 people, however, many cited health awareness as the main reason for quitting cigarettes.
But research from University College London suggests many people may be motivated to quit smoking by being encouraged by the money they can save by quitting. In the UK, a pack (pack of 20 cigarettes) currently costs £14, which will rise to £16 in 2026.
Cigarettes are considered a leading cause of death and health risk in the UK. Tobacco and nicotine in cigarettes can cause lung cancer and heart disease. About half of long-term smokers die young.
The study, which surveyed smokers from 2018 to 2023, found that a large number of people tried to quit after the start of the Covid pandemic, which inspired others.
Recent data shows that 12.7 percent of adults in England currently smoke, compared to 20 percent of adults in the country in 2011. Many cited health risks and rising prices of cigarettes as reasons for quitting.
The epidemic likely increased health awareness among smokers, the researchers wrote in the journal BMJ Public Health. As a result, efforts to quit smoking for better health have increased in 2020 and 2021.
Again due to covid many people have lost their jobs and lost income which has affected the standard of living.
Dr. University College London. Sarah Jackson recommends the use of e-cigarettes (electric cigarettes) for those interested in cutting down on smoking.
Previous studies from 2018 to 2022 showed smokers spent an average of £20 per week on cigarettes, while e-cigarette users spent £6.30. As prices rise, smokers either reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke or gravitate towards cheaper hand-rolled cigarettes. But it also has a dimension that increases interest in quitting smoking.
New smoking laws
Last week, the country’s MPs voted to ban the purchase of cigarettes in the UK for those born after 2009.
The ‘Tobacco and Vapes Bill’ (Tobacco and Vape Proposal) proposes one of the strictest smoking laws in the world. The new proposal aims to impose new restrictions on cigarette flavors and packaging, as well as ban vaping from children.
Translation: Tasbibul Gani Niloy
