Tobacco in the United Kingdom

Tobacco in the UK witnessed a sharp decline in volume and value sales during 2024, underpinned by the shift away from cigarettes and fine cut tobacco. In combination, these two products generate the majority of value sales in UK tobacco. Smoking prevalence has continued its downward trend, falling from over 12% in 2023 to just under 12% in 2024. The broad shifts in consumer behaviour are being driven by rising health awareness, regulatory changes, and higher taxation rates. Rising prices, largel...

Euromonitor International's Tobacco in United Kingdom report offers a comprehensive guide to the size and shape of the market at a national level. It provides the latest retail sales data 2020-2024, allowing you to identify the sectors driving growth. It identifies the leading companies, the leading brands and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market - be the new legislative, distribution or pricing issues. Forecasts to 2029 illustrate how the market is set to change.

Product coverage: Cigarettes, Cigarettes (Illicit+Legal), Cigars, Cigarillos and Smoking Tobacco, E-Vapour Consumables (Illicit+Legal), Smokeless Tobacco, E-Vapour Products and Heated Tobacco.

Data coverage: market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares, brand shares and distribution data.

Why buy this report?
* Get a detailed picture of the Tobacco market;
* Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change;
* Understand the competitive environment, the market’s major players and leading brands;
* Use five-year forecasts to assess how the market is predicted to develop.


Tobacco in the United Kingdom
Euromonitor International
June 2025
List Of Contents And Tables
TOBACCO IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Tobacco in 2024: The big picture
2024 key trends
Competitive landscape
Retail developments
What next for tobacco?
OPERATING ENVIRONMENT
Legislation
Legislative overview
Summary 1 Legislation Summary at a Glance
Minimum legal smoking age
Smoking prevalence
Tar levels
Health warnings
Plain packaging
Advertising and sponsorship
Point-of-sale display bans
Smoking in public places
Low ignition propensity (LIP) cigarette regulation
Flavoured tobacco product ban
Reduced harm
Vapour products
PRODUCTION/IMPORTS/EXPORTS
MARKET INDICATORS
Table 1 Number of Adult Smokers by Gender 2019-2024
MARKET DATA
Table 2 Sales of Tobacco by Category: Volume 2019-2024
Table 3 Sales of Tobacco by Category: Value 2019-2024
Table 4 Sales of Tobacco by Category: % Volume Growth 2019-2024
Table 5 Sales of Tobacco by Category: % Value Growth 2019-2024
Table 6 Forecast Sales of Tobacco by Category: Volume 2024-2029
Table 7 Forecast Sales of Tobacco by Category: Value 2024-2029
Table 8 Forecast Sales of Tobacco by Category: % Volume Growth 2024-2029
Table 9 Forecast Sales of Tobacco by Category: % Value Growth 2024-2029
DISCLAIMER
SOURCES
Summary 2 Research Sources
CIGARETTES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
KEY DATA FINDINGS
2024 DEVELOPMENTS
Price sensitivity and switching to alternatives sends cigarettes volume sales plummeting
Consumers switch to value brands in order to economise
Most distribution channels struggle as smoking rates continue to decline
PROSPECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Cigarette volume sales are set to continue declining over the forecast period
The minimum age for buying tobacco will rise gradually from 2027
Further government initiatives to have a strong impact on the future of tobacco
TAXATION AND PRICING
Taxation rates
Average cigarette pack price breakdown
Summary 3 Average Cigarette Pack Price Breakdown: Brand Examples
CATEGORY DATA
Table 10 Sales of Cigarettes: Volume 2019-2024
Table 11 Sales of Cigarettes by Category: Value 2019-2024
Table 12 Sales of Cigarettes: % Volume Growth 2019-2024
Table 13 Sales of Cigarettes by Category: % Value Growth 2019-2024
Table 14 Sales of Cigarettes by Blend: % Volume 2019-2024
Table 15 Sales of Cigarettes by Standard/Menthol/Capsule: % Volume 2019-2024
Table 16 Sales of Cigarettes by Regular/Slim/Superslim/Microslim: % Volume 2019-2024
Table 17 Sales of Cigarettes by Pack Size: % Volume 2019-2024
Table 18 Sales of Cigarettes by Price Band: % Volume 2019-2024
Table 19 NBO Company Shares of Cigarettes: % Volume 2020-2024
Table 20 LBN Brand Shares of Cigarettes: % Volume 2021-2024
Table 21 Sales of Cigarettes by Distribution Format: % Volume 2019-2024
Table 22 Illicit Trade Estimate of Cigarettes: Volume 2019-2024
Table 23 Forecast Sales of Cigarettes: Volume 2024-2029
Table 24 Forecast Sales of Cigarettes by Category: Value 2024-2029
Table 25 Forecast Sales of Cigarettes: % Volume Growth 2024-2029
Table 26 Forecast Sales of Cigarettes by Category: % Value Growth 2024-2029
Table 27 Forecast Sales of Cigarettes by Blend: % Volume 2024-2029
Table 28 Forecast Sales of Cigarettes by Standard/Menthol/Capsule: % Volume 2024-2029
Table 29 Forecast Sales of Cigarettes by Regular/Slim/Superslim/Microslim: % Volume 2024-2029
Table 30 Forecast Sales of Cigarettes by Pack Size: % Volume 2024-2029
Table 31 Forecast Sales of Cigarettes by Price Band: % Volume 2024-2029
CIGARS, CIGARILLOS AND SMOKING TOBACCO IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
KEY DATA FINDINGS
2024 DEVELOPMENTS
Consumption falls amid price hikes and the increasing shift towards alternatives
Flavoured and price fighter cigarillos continue to gain share and lead innovation
Convenience stores and supermarkets remain leading distribution channels
PROSPECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Steady volume growth is expected for cigarillos
The generational ban has potential side effects
Innovation is expected to come from lower priced offerings and limited edition cigarillos
CATEGORY DATA
Table 32 Sales of Cigars, Cigarillos and Smoking Tobacco by Category: Volume 2019-2024
Table 33 Sales of Cigars, Cigarillos and Smoking Tobacco by Category: Value 2019-2024
Table 34 Sales of Cigars, Cigarillos and Smoking Tobacco by Category: % Volume Growth 2019-2024
Table 35 Sales of Cigars, Cigarillos and Smoking Tobacco by Category: % Value Growth 2019-2024
Table 36 Sales of Cigars by Size: % Volume 2019-2024
Table 37 Sales of Cigarillos by Price Platform 2019-2024
Table 38 NBO Company Shares of Cigars and Cigarillos: % Volume 2020-2024
Table 39 LBN Brand Shares of Cigars and Cigarillos: % Volume 2021-2024
Table 40 NBO Company Shares of Cigars: % Volume 2020-2024
Table 41 LBN Brand Shares of Cigars: % Volume 2021-2024
Table 42 NBO Company Shares of Cigarillos: % Volume 2020-2024
Table 43 LBN Brand Shares of Cigarillos: % Volume 2021-2024
Table 44 NBO Company Shares of Smoking Tobacco: % Volume 2020-2024
Table 45 LBN Brand Shares of Smoking Tobacco: % Volume 2021-2024
Table 46 NBO Company Shares of Pipe Tobacco: % Volume 2020-2024
Table 47 LBN Brand Shares of Pipe Tobacco: % Volume 2021-2024
Table 48 NBO Company Shares of Fine Cut Tobacco: % Volume 2020-2024
Table 49 LBN Brand Shares of Fine Cut Tobacco: % Volume 2021-2024
Table 50 Distribution of Cigars and Cigarillos by Format: % Volume 2019-2024
Table 51 Distribution of Smoking Tobacco by Format: % Volume 2019-2024
Table 52 Forecast Sales of Cigars, Cigarillos and Smoking Tobacco by Category: Volume 2024-2029
Table 53 Forecast Sales of Cigars, Cigarillos and Smoking Tobacco by Category: Value 2024-2029
Table 54 Forecast Sales of Cigars, Cigarillos and Smoking Tobacco by Category: % Volume Growth 2024-2029
Table 55 Forecast Sales of Cigars, Cigarillos and Smoking Tobacco by Category: % Value Growth 2024-2029
SMOKELESS TOBACCO, E-VAPOUR PRODUCTS AND HEATED TOBACCO IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
KEY DATA FINDINGS
2024 DEVELOPMENTS
Smoking alternatives face key challenges ahead of new legislation
Players respond with new innovations ahead of pending changes in legislation
E-commerce is thriving in all categories, while vape shops and convenience stores remain the leading channel
PROSPECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Growth is anticipated for e-vapour products as players adapt to regulatory changes
Steady growth prospects for nicotine pouches
Adapting to change in a new era for e-vapour products
CATEGORY INDICATORS
Table 56 Number of Adult Vapers 2019-2024
CATEGORY DATA
Table 57 Sales of Smokeless Tobacco by Category: Volume 2019-2024
Table 58 Sales of Smokeless Tobacco by Category: % Volume Growth 2019-2024
Table 59 Sales of E-Vapour Products by Category: Volume 2019-2024
Table 60 Sales of E-Vapour Products by Category: % Volume Growth 2019-2024
Table 61 Sales of Tobacco Heating Devices: Volume 2019-2024
Table 62 Sales of Tobacco Heating Devices: % Volume Growth 2019-2024
Table 63 Sales of Heated Tobacco: Volume 2019-2024
Table 64 Sales of Heated Tobacco: % Volume Growth 2019-2024
Table 65 Sales of Tobacco Free Oral Nicotine: Volume 2019-2024
Table 66 Sales of Tobacco Free Oral Nicotine: % Volume Growth 2019-2024
Table 67 Sales of Tobacco Free Oral Nicotine by Category: Value 2019-2024
Table 68 Sales of Tobacco Free Oral Nicotine: % Value Growth 2019-2024
Table 69 Sales of Smokeless Tobacco, E-Vapour Products and Heated Tobacco by Category: Value 2019-2024
Table 70 Sales of Smokeless Tobacco, E-Vapour Products and Heated Tobacco by Category: % Value Growth 2019-2024
Table 71 Sales of E-Liquids by Nicotine Strength: % Value 2021-2024
Table 72 NBO Company Shares of Smokeless Tobacco: % Volume 2020-2024
Table 73 LBN Brand Shares of Smokeless Tobacco: % Volume 2021-2024
Table 74 NBO Company Shares of E-Vapour Products: % Value 2020-2024
Table 75 LBN Brand Shares of E-Vapour Products: % Value 2021-2024
Table 76 NBO Company Shares of Tobacco Heating Devices: % Volume 2020-2024
Table 77 LBN Brand Shares of Tobacco Heating Devices: % Volume 2021-2024
Table 78 NBO Company Shares of Heated Tobacco: % Volume 2020-2024
Table 79 LBN Brand Shares of Heated Tobacco: % Volume 2021-2024
Table 80 NBO Company Shares of Tobacco Free Oral Nicotine: % Volume 2020-2024
Table 81 LBN Brand Shares of Tobacco Free Oral Nicotine: % Volume 2021-2024
Table 82 Distribution of Smokeless Tobacco by Format: % Volume 2019-2024
Table 83 Distribution of E-Vapour Products by Format: % Value 2019-2024
Table 84 Distribution of Tobacco Heating Devices by Format: % Volume 2019-2024
Table 85 Distribution of Heated Tobacco by Format: % Volume 2019-2024
Table 86 Forecast Sales of Smokeless Tobacco by Category: Volume 2024-2029
Table 87 Forecast Sales of Smokeless Tobacco by Category: % Volume Growth 2024-2029
Table 88 Forecast Sales of E-Vapour Products by Category: Volume 2024-2029
Table 89 Forecast Sales of E-Vapour Products by Category: % Volume Growth 2024-2029
Table 90 Forecast Sales of Tobacco Heating Devices: Volume 2024-2029
Table 91 Forecast Sales of Tobacco Heating Devices: % Volume Growth 2024-2029
Table 92 Forecast Sales of Heated Tobacco: Volume 2024-2029
Table 93 Forecast Sales of Heated Tobacco: % Volume Growth 2024-2029
Table 94 Forecast Sales of Tobacco Free Oral Nicotine: Volume 2024-2029
Table 95 Forecast Sales of Tobacco Free Oral Nicotine: % Volume Growth 2024-2029
Table 96 Forecast Sales of Tobacco Free Oral Nicotine by Category: Value 2024-2029
Table 97 Forecast Sales of Tobacco Free Oral Nicotine by Category: % Value Growth 2024-2029
Table 98 Forecast Sales of Smokeless Tobacco, E-Vapour Products and Heated Tobacco by Category: Value 2024-2029
Table 99 Forecast Sales of Smokeless Tobacco, E-Vapour Products and Heated Tobacco by Category: % Value Growth 2024-2029

Download our eBook: How to Succeed Using Market Research

Learn how to effectively navigate the market research process to help guide your organization on the journey to success.

Download eBook
Cookie Settings