Expenditure on alcohol and tobacco in the United Kingdom Q1 2012- Q4 2021
Consumer spending on alcoholic beverages and tobacco in the United Kingdom rose in the fourth quarter of 2021 to 13.4 billion Great British Pounds. Unlike 2020, fourth quarter sales in 2021 were not the highest but rather the third highest for the year.
Alcohol and tobacco market in the UK
While expenditure in 2017 and 2018 was up, the sales volume in the category was down. Compared to August 2016, sales volumes in August 2017 were down 27 percent. Month by month comparisons show lower sales starting in February 2017 and continuing into the summer of 2019. These developments in expenditure and sales volume were accompanied by a price hike starting in January 2017. The general upward trend in prices was still unbroken at the start of 2019.
Impacts
Household expenditure for tobacco and alcohol products puts lower income households under a much greater strain than high income households. On average, 3.3 percent of household income in the poorest ten percent of households is spent on these products. With an increased spending for lower volumes, this strain is increasing too.
Alcohol and tobacco market in the UK
While expenditure in 2017 and 2018 was up, the sales volume in the category was down. Compared to August 2016, sales volumes in August 2017 were down 27 percent. Month by month comparisons show lower sales starting in February 2017 and continuing into the summer of 2019. These developments in expenditure and sales volume were accompanied by a price hike starting in January 2017. The general upward trend in prices was still unbroken at the start of 2019.
Impacts
Household expenditure for tobacco and alcohol products puts lower income households under a much greater strain than high income households. On average, 3.3 percent of household income in the poorest ten percent of households is spent on these products. With an increased spending for lower volumes, this strain is increasing too.
