TOBACCO prices have lit up since plain packaging rules were brought in, analysis shows.
Manufacturers argued that the measure – aimed at reducing the consumption of cigarettes and similar products – would push prices down and make the addictive substances more accessible.
But new work funded by the Cancer Policy Research Centre at Cancer Research UK shows prices have gone up since May 2017, with the rises greater than expected.
Scotland was the first part of the UK to commit to the ban, designed to “de-glamourise” the products by removing brand logos and ensuring packs carry graphic medical images of the damage smoking can do.
UK-wide measures came fully into force in May 2017, following a one-year transition period.
Dr Nathan Critchlow of the Institute for Social Marketing at Stirling University found the sales price of leading brands increased by almost 5% in the ensuing 18 months, adding an extra 38p onto the tab for a box of 20. Rolling tobacco saw an 8% rise, raising the cost of a 30g pack by 91p.
Critchlow said: “Tobacco companies were strongly opposed to plain packaging. They appeared adamant that, if the policy was implemented, brands would only be able to compete on price, which would result in lower prices, greater affordability and, consequently, increased consumption.
“Our study, however, provides early evidence that these concerns of lower prices appear to be unfounded.
“We found that, as well as the sale prices, recommended retail prices also increased. This suggests that tobacco companies instigated the price rises – and that their predictions of falling prices and rising affordability were intended to deter the government from implementing the policy.”
The results are published in the Addiction journal.
Critchlow said: “We found that prices increased across the tobacco market, including rises for value cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco, which price-sensitive consumers may have down-traded to. We also found a continued use of higher prices to distinguish the quality of premium cigarette brands.
“The increases were greater than expected, if just moving in line with tobacco duty.”
Kruti Shrotri, of Cancer Research UK, commented: “Plain packaging for cigarettes is an effective public health measure to reduce the attractiveness of tobacco to young people.
“The tobacco industry were clearly saying anything they could to try and undermine this health measure and protect their profits.”
Plain packaging, which sees companies use the same dull green, was first introduced in Australia in 2011 and has also been adopted by Ireland.
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