Despite the fact that UK smokers have had to remortgage their houses and sell organs on the black market in order to fund their habit in the wake of the tobacco price hike (slight exaggeration, but roll with it), a group of researchers are now calling on the industry to increase the price even more because apparently cigarettes are still too affordable.
The Sun reports that a group of researchers from the University of Bath reckon that the price of £10 for 20 smokes is 'too affordable' to urge people to quit. Try telling that to a hardened smoker.
Their proposed solution is to hike the tax even higher on straights and roll-ups and continue to do so year on year until cigs cost £20 per pack by 2020.
Advert
According to the findings, in 2002 smokers took home 92% of their income once cigarettes were taken out of the equation. By 2014, this figure had fallen to 88 percent. But instead of quitting, smokers instead just sacrificed other luxuries in order to keep puffing.
However, one of the key researchers over at the University of Bath, Dr Rob Branston, reckons further tax rises could be the push they need to quit the deadly habit.
He said: "Larger tax rises are needed to make smokers realise it is unaffordable. We would suggest that the UK government follow the lead of the Australian government.
Advert
"They have announced large yearly price rises up to 2020 which will result in the price in the shops exceeding the equivalent of £20 a packet.
"If the UK follows suit, tobacco will become less affordable and this should push more smokers to give up the deadly habit.
"This will especially be the case if the money raised is used to fund services to support quitting."
Advert
Although the researchers only have the best interests at heart - the health of the UK's smokers - we can't help but wonder whether the price is enough to make someone quit.
Featured Image Credit: