Tripling tobacco taxes ‘would save 200m lives’

A stiff tax increase could prevent millions of deaths worldwide, it has been claimed. Picture: TSPL

The new tax would encourage people to quit smoking rather than switch from more expensive to cheaper brands, and help to stop young people taking up the habit, say the scientists.

They came to the conclusion after conducting a systematic review of 63 studies on the causes and consequences of tobacco use in different countries.

Research has shown that a 50 per cent higher inflation-adjusted price for cigarettes reduces tobacco consumption by about a fifth, with the biggest impact on the young and poor.

In high-income countries, 50 to 60 per cent of the price of a pack of cigarettes is tax. But in low- and middle-income countries, tax makes up only 30 to 40 per cent of the cost.

Study co-author Professor Sir Richard Peto, from the charity Cancer Research UK, said: “The two certainties in life are death and taxes. We want higher tobacco taxes and fewer tobacco deaths. It would help children not to start, and it would help many adults to stop while there’s still time.

“Globally, about half of all young men and one in ten of all young women become smokers, and, particularly in developing countries, relatively few quit. If they keep smoking, about half will be killed by it, but if they stop before 40, they’ll reduce their risk by 90 per cent.”

He added: “The international tobacco industry makes about £30 billion in profits each year – a profit of approximately £6,000 per death from smoking.”

Tripling tobacco taxes would also increase global government revenues from tobacco by a third, from £180bn a year to £240bn, said the researchers.

In the European Union, a doubling of cigarette prices would prevent 100,000 deaths a year in the under-70s, they added.

The findings are reported in the latest issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Dr Harpal Kumar, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: “Worldwide, about half a billion children and adults under the age of 35 are already – or soon will be – smokers, and many will be hooked for life.

“This immensely important study demonstrates that tobacco taxes are a hugely powerful lever, and potentially a triple win – reducing the numbers of people who smoke and who die from their addiction, reducing the healthcare burden and costs associated with smoking and yet, at the same time, increasing government income.

“We urge all governments to take action by regularly raising tobacco taxes above inflation.”

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: “Smoking is the single biggest cause of preventable illness and premature death. There is clear evidence that cost has an impact on people giving up or taking it up in the first place and the taxation of tobacco announced at the Budget and action to prevent smuggling of it reflects this.”