U.S. cigarette sales stopped declining for the first time in decades in 2020, according to a new report.
Cigarette sales in the U.S., which had been dropping for years, “were flat [in 2020] compared to the previous year,” the Wall Street Journal reported, citing data released by Altria Group, which makes Marlboro cigarettes.
The COVID-19 pandemic drove some to start smoking more often, or to switch back to cigarettes from e-cigarettes and other alternatives, the outlet reported.
“COVID-19 has created a drastic change in daily life, including increased stress and anxiety, that may contribute to a smaller-than expected reduction in cigarette sales,” an FDA spokeswoman told the outlet.
But, she noted, citing the myriad health risks smoking poses, there “has never been a better time to try to quit.”
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