THE price for a pack of cigarettes will go up as Rishi Sunak introduced a tobacco tax increase as part of his Autumn Budget announcement.

From 6pm on Wednesday, October 27, smokers of more expensive brands will see the price jump by 88p to £13.60 for a pack of 20.

Cheaper brands of 20 packs will go up by 63p to £9.73.

The price of rolling tobacco will also see a similar rise, with a 30g bag costing £9.02, an increase of 89p.

Tobacco duty on cigarette smokers is designed to both encourage people to qui and to raise cash for government.

Tobacco and alcohol duty was left untouched by the Chancellor in the Spring Budget earlier this year however both we included in Wednesday’s announcement.

The duty rates on all tobacco products will go from RPI inflation plus two percent, while hand-rolling tobacco will go up by RPI plus six percent.

The increase is introduced on the same day as the Budget to stop people from bulk buying.

It is the latest blow to smokers as the government continues to introduce new rules encouraged to stop people smoking.

Last year, menthol and flavoured cigarettes were banned.

Sunak announces overhaul of alcohol duty

Elsewhere, the Chancellor said he was “radically” simplifying alcohol duty by introducing a system designed around the principle of “the stronger the drink, the higher the rate”.

The Chancellor announced proposals for a new “small producer relief” to include small cidermakers and other producers making alcoholic drinks of less than 8.5 per cent alcohol by volume (ABV).

In relation to sparkling wines, Mr Sunak said: “I’m going to end the irrational duty premium of 28 per cent that they currently pay. Sparkling wines – wherever they are produced – will now pay the same duty as still wines of equivalent strength.”

Mr Sunak said the planned increase in duty on spirits, wine, cider and beer will be cancelled from midnight tonight, a tax cut worth £3 billion.

MORE NEWS: