Tobacco.org

Health groups call on Chancellor to prioritise anti-tobacco smuggling measures and sign EU-wide agreements 

On behalf of 22 health groups, ASH will be meeting the Exchequer Secretary, Angela Eagle today to present plans on tackling smuggling and raising tobacco taxes, ahead of the forthcoming Budget. [1] ASH and more than 20 other health groups are calling on the Chancellor to: • Re-introduce the real price escalator to raise the tax on tobacco by at least 10p per pack above the rate of inflation [2] • Maintain the 5% VAT on nicotine replacement therapies that was introduced in last year’s Budget (the tax was reduced from 17.5% as an incentive to increase uptake) • Implement a revised anti-smuggling strategy with challenging new targets

Jump to full article »