ASH calls on the British government to tax the tobacco industry as a harmful industry.

The new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced his intention to reduce business taxes applied to pubs, clubs and music venues by 20%, financing this measure in particular through a review of exemptions granted to certain businesses deemed harmful and less contributory, including unregulated vaping shops.[1]. The anti-tobacco organization ASH urges the government to go further by also, and especially, taxing the tobacco industry.

Taxation of vaping shops in the Prime Minister's sights

The British Prime Minister's announcement of a more targeted tax on vaping shops comes amid growing criticism of these businesses in the UK: some residents link their growth to the decline of city centers and are concerned about possible links to illegal activities, including the sale of illicit products and money laundering. The British government has thus confirmed that« The changes announced today [regarding the reduction of the business tax] will be fully funded, notably through a review of aid granted to companies that do not contribute positively to local life, such as electronic cigarette shops. »[2].

ASH calls on the government to complement this measure with a tax on cigarette manufacturers

For ASH, if the goal is to make sectors with a negative impact on society contribute more, the tobacco industry should also be included. The association has been advocating for several years for the implementation of a specific levy on tobacco manufacturers' profits, in accordance with the best practices and recommendations of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

According to its estimates, this measure could generate approximately £5 billion (€5.8 billion) over five years. These revenues could fund smoking cessation programs and other public policies.

In parallel, the Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath recently raised the possibility of taxing tobacco companies based on the "polluter pays" principle: lower the highest wholesale tobacco prices while offsetting this decrease with an increase in excise duties, in order to maintain the average price of tobacco at a stable level. According to researchers, this approach would reduce the industry's room for price setting, rather than placing the financial burden solely on consumers and retailers.

The very heavy health and economic burden of tobacco in the United Kingdom

ASH points out that tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable premature death in the UK, with approximately 80,000 smoking-related deaths annually. According to the organization's data, the annual cost of tobacco to society in England reaches £44.8 billion (€52.4 billion).

The organization also believes that the tobacco industry makes little contribution to the British economy, with around 5,000 direct jobs, while a tobacco-free society could generate up to 135,000 additional jobs through a reorientation of household spending likely to generate much more business creation.

According to a survey cited by ASH, 77% of British adults support a specific financial contribution from the tobacco industry to offset the costs associated with its activities. This is all the more necessary in a country that claims to be ambitious in its fight against tobacco and nicotine, with the recent adoption of the The Tobacco and Vapes Bill. This bill provides for a generational ban on the sale of tobacco to people born after 2009. but also the  Possible strengthening of restrictions concerning vaping products.

This demand for heavy taxation of the tobacco industry, beyond the British case, reflects a global movement stemming in particular from the extent of the damage caused by this industry, damage currently outsourced to companies and their taxpayers. Thus, in June 2026, within the framework of the "Make Big Tobacco Pay" movement, NGOs, legal experts, and civil society organizations from several continents have mobilized to demand greater accountability from the tobacco industry for the health, environmental, and economic consequences associated with its products..

©Generation Without Tobacco

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[1]If Andy Burnham is looking to tax businesses that 'do not make a positive contribution to society', he should start with big tobacco, Action on Smoking and Health, published July 23, 2026, accessed July 24, 2026

[2]James Rodger, Andy Burnham confirms vape crackdown under his government with 72-hour rule, Birmingham Live, published on July 24, 2026, accessed the same day

National Committee Against Smoking |