A new prediction has suggested that England will be smoke-free by 2044.[1] However, smokers who give it up this year could save an estimated £53,000 on cigarettes compared to those who are last to quit.[2]
The extinction of smoking prediction was calculated using historical ONS data and a machine learning algorithm. This estimated how the active number of smokers in England will steadily decline year by year until it drops close to zero in 2044. The research also revealed how those who quit before this could save a significant amount of money.
As the average cost for a pack of 20 cigarettes is currently £14.59,[3] and the average smoker uses 10 cigarettes per day,[4] the costs soon add up. Using these figures, the research uncovered that smokers could save themselves £7.30 a day or £221.89 a month by cutting out cigarettes. Plus by quitting right at the start of the year, smokers could save an average of almost £2,700 throughout 2024.
The study, compiled by Go.Compare, has also found that if smokers were to end the vice as part of their 2024 New Year’s resolutions, they could save themselves a staggering £53,253.50 between now and when smoking is predicted to go extinct.[2]
The comparison site’s prediction also suggests women will stop smoking at an earlier date, with their numbers declining to zero by 2039, five years earlier than men. This means that those who quit in 2024 could save themselves an estimated £40,000 compared to the final woman to quit. Meanwhile, the last male smoker will spend over £13,000 more than the last woman to quit.[2]
Matt Sanders, life insurance expert at Go.Compare, said: “There are many factors contributing to the steady decline of smoking, and if our predictions are correct, England will finally be smoke-free by 2044. That being said, smokers should still be encouraged to quit sooner rather than later.
“There are many reasons to quit smoking as part of your New Year’s resolutions, health being one of the more obvious ones, but cost can also be a big motivator. With cigarettes costing an estimated £2.7k a year, quitting could save smokers a lot of money in 2024. Life insurance premiums could also be available at better prices for those who choose to quit, as they tend to be cheaper for non-smokers.
“You’re considered smoke-free by your insurance provider once you can prove you haven’t consumed any nicotine products in the last 12 months. This means that by quitting in January of 2024, you could ensure you’re saving money on your premiums by the start of 2025. If you are looking for support to quit, you can make use of free local services, which can be accessed through the NHS.”
