Tobacco tax could lead to ‘a cigarette-free world by 2040’ | Society | The Guardian

Tobacco tax could lead to ‘a cigarette-free world by 2040’ | Society | The Guardian: "Pressure is growing for the introduction of an additional levy on cigarette sales in the UK, a move that campaigners say could help eradicate tobacco consumption within decades.

All three main political parties have signalled that they are open to the idea, which has been discussed by senior civil servants in the Treasury and the Department of Health and would be the latest salvo to be fired across the bows of big tobacco. From tomorrow, newsagents will no longer be able to display tobacco products behind their counters and from next year cigarettes will have to be sold in unbranded packs.

The small print of last month’s budget confirmed that the coalition remains open to the idea of a levy, first floated in a consultation exercise unveiled in last year’s autumn statement. Tobacco companies had hoped the idea would be scrapped, but instead the coalition confirmed that it “will continue the consultation on whether to introduce a tobacco levy through informal consultation with stakeholders”."



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