Cigarettes in Western Europe Set to Run Out of Puff

A combination of darker markets, economic uncertainty (particularly in Southern Europe), swingeing excise increases and the continuing momentum of illicit trade is set to severely depress cigarette volumes in Western Europe between 2011 and 2016 with an 11% decline in retail volumes sales projected. With smoking prevalence dropping year-on-year (there will be 4 million fewer smokers in Western Europe by 2016) and consumers increasingly demanding alternatives to tobacco products, e-cigarette and nicotine delivery device manufacturers will be eager to convert these losses into substantial gains for the fledging product area.