Smokers said reported £1.15 a pack price hike - the biggest ever - was "unfair on the working class" - and governments should legalise cannabis instead. The price of a 20 pack of cigarettes will rise by £1.15 next month, according to reports, thanks to an expected to raise tobacco duty.
The price of a 30g pack of hand-rolling tobacco could go up by £2 in what would be the biggest increase in the price of cigarettes the UK has ever seen. But smokers said the rise wouldn't stop them sparking up - and accused the government of "taking advantage".
Other said low income families will now spend money designated for food on fags instead - while some said the rise will just increase illegal tobacco sales. Gary Cowan, 60, an artist, gets through a 30g pouch of Golden Virginia a week, and has been smoking for around 25 years.
The father-of-four and grandfather-of-five said: "They might as well legalise cannabis - they’d get even more money. I’m not worried about not being able to afford it, but they’re taking the p*** now. They’re grabbing our money - it’s a different world.
“The government just want to tax everything - they’re tax mad. It’s unfair on the working class to knock the price up like that when you know people have got a habit and need the cigarettes - the injustice of it all. They’re going to strip our rights away next.”
Abbey Trent, 20, a trainee carer, smokes 30 to 40 Lambert and Butler a day. She said: “The price hike is ridiculous. I can remember when I was in school they used to sell packs of 10 Players for £3.20. I’ll still be able to afford it but it’s going to be a lot harder for many people.
“It’s unfair because some people have been smoking for years and years, and it’s really hard to give up. If tobacco keeps rising in price, it’s harder for people to get the money to buy it, and they end up wasting money on cigarettes rather than things they need. It’s people’s choice to smoke, but it’s very unfair on people who can’t give it up.
"I only think it’s unfair because the government says it’s putting prices up to stop smoking but there are loads of vapes which can have an even higher nicotine content. The government is just taking advantage of people to make more money.”
Shane Knight, 34, a self-employed handyman and his wife Meika Knight, 22, a warehouse worker, said it was "unfair". Meika said: “We go in and ask for the cheapest pouch of tobacco. The prices have already gone up so much in recent years.
“I definitely think it’s unfair - it's just another way to gain more tax by making life harder for us. The government are going to bump up the cost at a time when everything’s already getting really expensive. It seems completely unnecessary.
“It’s just for greed. I don't want to live in a society where the government is trying to line its own pockets, but unfortunately they are. Putting the price up is only going to make life harder for those in very low income families, who are addicted to smoking and are now going to take money away from their budget for food which they need to feed their kids to afford that extra few pounds because they’re addicted.
“Instead of looking at them as victims of addiction, they view them as another source of income."
She said her message to the government would be "I hope you’re proud of yourselves.”
Shane added: “The original reason they said they were going to put the price up of tobacco was for health, now it’s got nothing to do with that. No one’s not going to buy it because it costs a couple of quid more. They’re still going to buy it.
“More recently I’ve been worried about the cost, so go for the cheapest option. I used to smoke Golden Virginia. We share a pouch and it lasts us about a week. We buy about four a month and it costs around £60-70 a month.
“If anything it means we’ll just have to buy cheap tobacco on the black market. There are lots of shops you can now get cheaper tobacco under the counter."
Frank Anderson, 22, a student and charity fundraiser, smokes four or five Cutters Choice cigarettes a day, and has been smoking for seven years. He said: "The price increase is ridiculous. It’s way too much. It’s really cheap in Europe. I understand they are trying to get everyone to stop smoking this decade, but it’s not going to happen.
"I’ll just keep buying cheap imported tobacco from local stores that sell it. Nobody wants to pay £20 for a pack of cigarettes. They’re banking on the fact everybody’s addicted - so is it a health initiative, or is it a money grab?
“I don’t buy straights because its too expensive. I can barely afford it as it is. You could say it’s a bad thing, or a good thing that I might have to stop. But you can get it cheaper elsewhere, so that’s what I’m going to do.
“I probably spend about £50 a month on cigarettes. How would you feel if they hiked the alcohol price by the same amount?
"It’s the same thing - my body, my choice. I feel I should be able to do this if I want to, knowing the risk. The only thing that will change is I’ll be more out of pocket.”
Gary Tucker, stone mason, 56, father of one - a daughter - said, currently spends £23 a week on a 50g pouch of sterling. He said: “It’s going to be £15 extra a month. It’s not a big hit, but the government are just robbing people for tax left right and centre. It’s not fair.
“People will just start buying cheap cigarettes from black market shops. Its £6 for 5og. I might have to start doing that. The price increase is nothing to do with health. I’ve been smoking since I was about 16.
“I live in a van and have had the fuel price increases recently too. They’re just robbing people - I’m not happy about it. The prices rises are just going to push people into the black market, smoking unverified tobacco which is worse for them - so it’s counter-productive
“It’s unfair on people. Smokers are an easy target. I’m not going to give up smoking because I enjoy it.”
Alfie Graham, 25, works in cybersecurity. He said: "I spend a tonne of money on tobacco already. I probably buy a 30g pouch of Amber Leaf a week. That costs me £18, so that's going to cost nearly £3 more.
"I've smoked since I was 15, but I'm desperately trying to give up. This won't make me give up though because when it comes to smoking, money isn't really a factor. It's more for health reasons. It's intended to make people more healthy, but it feels like a tax on the poor, as I don't think richer people will care about it costing more.
"It's unfair, I think more effort should be put into promoting smoking alternatives.
"I think its ineffective"
Freya Stott, 21, works in hospitality. She said: "I probably smoke a 50g pouch of Cutter's Choice a month, which costs around £30
"If it's in an effort to stop people smoking, I don't think raising prices will do so. An extra £2.70 a week isn't going to push people away enough.
"I think it would have to be a much more drastic increase in price if you actually want people to stop smoking.
"They should be putting more money into finding alternatives to tobacco and pushing them instead."
