eNews Briefing button

Tobacco taxation

Increasing the cost of cigarettes is proven to save lives by encouraging smokers to quit, although it is recognised that high cigarette prices hit poorer smokers hardest.

To prevent tax policy worsening health and social inequalities, the NHF supports continued above-inflation increases in tobacco taxation to be made subject to the government using the increased revenues to support NHS-based stop smoking services and stepping up action and penalties to combat tobacco smuggling.