A new report highlights the financial burden of smoking in the UK, with some smokers spending the equivalent of a house deposit over 25 years. Conducted by nicotinepouches.net, the study used Tesco.com data to calculate cigarette prices and Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures to track smoking prevalence across UK districts. With cigarette prices continuing to rise and health risks well-documented, quitting could save smokers enough money to enter the property market.
The average price of a cigarette pack in 2024 is £14.23, which works out to £0.71 per cigarette. ONS data shows that the average Brit smokes 10.6 cigarettes daily, a habit costing £49.80 weekly, £216.41 monthly, and £2,597 annually. Over 25 years, this totals £64,922, a sum that could form a substantial deposit in many UK regions.
The report also details spending based on different levels of daily consumption:
- A quarter pack daily. Five cigarettes a day cost £24.90 weekly, £108.20 monthly, £649 over six months, and £32,461 across 25 years.
- Half a pack daily. Ten cigarettes a day amount to £49.80 weekly, £216.41 monthly, £2,597 yearly, and £64,922 over 25 years.
- One pack daily. Twenty cigarettes a day total £99.61 weekly, £5,194 annually, £51,938 over 10 years, and £129,845 across 25 years.
- Two packs daily. Forty cigarettes a day equal £199.21 weekly, £10,388 annually, £51,938 over five years, and £259,690 across 25 years.
- Two and a half packs daily. Fifty cigarettes a day cost £249.02 weekly, £1,082.04 monthly, £12,984 annually, and £324,612 over 25 years.
The health costs are equally severe. According to Bupa, smoking 20 or more cigarettes daily increases stroke risk up to six times compared with non-smokers. Smoking is also linked to lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory illness, contributing to nearly 80,000 deaths each year in the UK.
ONS data from 2019 to 2023 identifies the regions with the highest smoking prevalence: Fenland in the East of England leads at 22.1% of adults, followed by Blackpool at 21.3%, North Lanarkshire in Scotland at 20.8%, Kingston upon Hull at 20.3%, South Holland at 20.3%, Burnley at 19.9%, Mansfield at 19.9%, West Lothian at 19.5%, Crawley at 19.1%, and Glasgow City at 19.1%.
Commenting on the findings, Miikka Saloseutu from nicotinepouches.net said, “Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable diseases in the UK. It is responsible for nearly 80,000 deaths each year. When cigarettes are smoked, they produce harmful chemicals like tar and carbon monoxide. These are the primary contributors to the health risks associated with smoking, including lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory issues. While nicotine is addictive, it is not the primary cause of the most serious health problems associated with smoking. Nicotine pouches can be a helpful tool for people trying to quit smoking because they provide a controlled and safer way to manage nicotine cravings without the harmful effects of smoking traditional cigarettes.”
The report comes as the government pursues ambitious anti-smoking measures. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, currently progressing through Parliament, aims to create a smoke-free generation by banning tobacco sales to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009. NHS England also reported 408,700 smoking-related hospital admissions in 2022 to 2023, reinforcing the urgency of such measures. With smoking draining both wallets and health, quitting offers clear benefits for individuals and wider society.
