Few studies have empirically investigated the regressivity of the cigarette excise taxes, and specifically the impact of changes in cigarette taxes and prices on the distribution of the burden of the tax. Today’s tobacco tax increases make cigarettes even more expensive, causing financial pain for many low-income smokers who are unable to quit. The tax on tobacco in African countries has almost quadrupled since 2010 and is helping to fill government coffers.Most remaining smokers are addicted to nicotine and prioritise their cigarette purchase at any price, often sacrificing household essentials like food. At these unprecedented price levels, it is unclear if further price rises have a net public health benefit.