how much has tobacco gone up in the budget

Tobacco duty is set to rise in two main stages linked to the UK government’s recent budgets and tax plans, with increases both as a percentage and as fixed amounts per pack.

Quick Scoop

• From 26 November 2025, tobacco duty rates will increase by Retail Price Index (RPI) plus 2 percentage points across all tobacco products.

• From 1 October 2026, there will be another rise of RPI plus 2 percentage points and an extra £2.20 per 100 cigarettes and £2.20 per 50g of other tobacco products.

• These changes mean cigarettes and rolling tobacco will become progressively more expensive over late 2025 and through 2026, on top of normal price inflation.

What this means in practice

• The government’s aim is to keep tobacco taxes “high” so that smoking becomes less affordable over time and duty continues to raise significant revenue.

• The extra £2.20 per 100 cigarettes is roughly an additional 44p duty on a standard 20‑cigarette pack, before any further price changes from manufacturers or retailers.

Why now?

• The rises were announced alongside the introduction of a new Vaping Products Duty, to keep vaping cheaper than smoking and preserve an incentive to switch away from cigarettes.

• Legislation is planned in the Finance Bill 2025–26 to lock in the 2025–26 and 2026–27 tobacco upratings plus the one‑off 2026 increase in one go, all taking effect on 1 October 2026.

Wider context and debate

• Public health groups generally support above‑inflation tobacco tax rises, arguing they cut smoking rates and reduce long‑term healthcare costs.

• Industry and some consumer voices argue that sharp increases risk fueling illicit trade and place a heavier burden on lower‑income smokers who struggle to quit.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.