The boss of an e-cigarette business is telling an unusual tale amidst the cost of living crisis – increased sales.

Tunbridge Wells local Mike Cameron (pictured), co-founder of e-cigarette business SMOKO, has seen an increase in customers as the cost of living crisis hits.

Many smokers turning away from their expensive cigarette brands and turning towards cheaper alternatives like e-cigarettes as they feel the pinch.
According to a 2020 report, 13.8% of the UK population are current smokers with an average smoking habit costing them £2000 per year, but with 83% of us reporting higher living costs, and 51% reporting they have less to spend on non-essentials, it’s no surprise that the UK smoking population is rapidly trying save the pennies where they can.

SMOKO has seen a 250% increase in new customers compared to this time last year – given that switching to e-cigarettes could save a pack-a-day smoker over £3000 every year, it’s no surprise to see why people are switching according to Mike:

“We’ve noticed more and more adult smokers are talking about the cost of cigarettes. Where health reasons used to be the main reason people would buy our products, it seems like the cost of living crisis is forcing more and more smokers into trying to quit smoking as they can’t afford to pay higher food prices and soaring energy bills, let alone supplement their smoking habit.”

Gone are the days when the average price of a 20-pack of cigarettes was less than £2 – in 2021 the same 20-pack will set you back a whopping £11.52, a 76% increase from 2011 with an average of a 4% increase per year. But with recent figures showing that the average disposable income has already fallen by 2.2% per person in 2022, smokers are really feeling the squeeze.

With the cost of living having such a huge impact on the UK’s smokers, could this financial crisis inadvertently lead to a ‘quit-smoking’ exodus?

Mike shares his thoughts:

“Vaping has always been dramatically cheaper than traditional cigarettes – up to 80% cheaper in fact, so it’s no shock to see more people moving to vape as money becomes tight. Keeping the lights on is always going to take priority over spending £12+ for a pack of cigarettes.

I just hope that we can help more people make ends meet in these trying times, with the added benefit of helping them lead a healthier lifestyle!”