Smokers brace yourselves: next month, you'll be facing the biggest-ever price hike in cigarettes due to raised tobacco duty prepared by Jeremy Hunt. The average pack of 20 cigarettes will go up by £1.15. This news is a blow to smoking Brits, who are already struggling with the high prices of cigarettes and the cost of living crisis. There is currently no better time to quit smoking than now.
The price increase is expected to be 12.7% RPI, plus an extra minimum 2% on other tobacco products. Meaning a pack of 20 cigarettes would jump by more than 15%. Even hand-rolling tobacco isn't immune, as a 30g pack will rise by £2 thanks to the new higher rates.
Insiders are bracing for the impact of this price leap, as fears around the growing black market of smoking products increase, which is believed to have cost the Treasury £51.3 billion. The Action on Smoking and Health group has even urged the Chancellor to increase the duty by 5.4 per cent in line with earnings, rather than with the high inflation.
Cigarette duty is currently 16.5% of the retail price, with an extra £5.26 on a packet of 20. According to the Office for National Statistics, the average price of a pack of 20 kingsize filters is already a whopping £12.84. Unless the Chancellor intervenes to freeze the rates, they usually increase with inflation each year. Taxing tobacco brings in a staggering £10.7 billion (1.2% total tax take) for the Government.
With the cost of smoking set to rise, ministers will most likely achieve their goal of making Britain “smoke-free” by 2030, with less than 5% of adults smoking. However, smokers will be looking for ways to save money, and that's where we come in.
Here at JAC Vapour, we offer an incredible range of vape kits and vape juice suitable for all types of vapers. Whether you have just quit smoking and starting out or have been a vaper for years, we have something for you.
For those wanting to start to cut back on cigarettes or quit altogether, we recommend starting with our rechargeable disposable vape, the Puff Box. It is incredibly compact and convenient, using twist-in refills (available in 6 flavours) and USB-C charging to ensure you're never without a vape. Plus it costs less than 50% compared to other disposable vapes on the market. What more could you want?
However, if you're looking for that more classic vape pen style, then check out our SERIES-S17 AIO and SERIES-S22 vape kits. With top-fill tanks, adjustable airflow and longer battery lives, plus the ability to use any vape juice, our SERIES S vape kits are perfect for those looking to take their next step in the vaping world.
Check out our full range of vape kits and vape juice here and kick-start your quit-smoking journey. You could save more than £1400 a year after the price increase by swapping to vaping.