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Player’s has been one of Canada’s best-selling cigarettes for the better part of a century. It’s still on shelves — the question most people arrive with is why a carton now costs $150.
We don’t carry Player’s. We sell native cigarettes at $42 a carton.
What Player’s is
The brand began as John Player & Sons in Nottingham, England, in the 1870s. The sailor in the lifebelt — the Navy Cut trademark — was one of the most recognised pieces of packaging in the English-speaking world for close to a century.
Imperial Tobacco brought it to Canada, where it became one of the two or three top-selling cigarettes in the country through the 1970s and 1980s. It’s manufactured here by Imperial Tobacco Canada, the Canadian arm of British American Tobacco.
Player’s Plain — the unfiltered version — was for a long time among the most popular cigarettes in Canada. Filtered varieties dominate now.
Current range: Player’s, Player’s Light, Player’s Extra Light.
Why the names changed
If you remember Player’s Light and wonder where it went, the answer isn’t the tobacco.
In November 2006 the Competition Bureau reached agreements with Canada’s three largest cigarette manufacturers to stop using “light” and “mild” on packaging. The terms implied a safer product, which wasn’t true. The changeover finished in July 2007 and affected 79 cigarette brands.
Nothing inside the pack changed. The words were replaced with descriptors like smooth and rich, along with numbers and pack colours. Plain packaging in 2019 then removed the colours and logos as well, which is why every pack in a Canadian store now looks identical.
What it costs
A carton runs $135 to $165 depending on province.
| Component | Per carton of 200 |
|---|---|
| Federal excise duty | $38.92 |
| Provincial tobacco tax | $36.95 – $80.00 |
| Sales tax | Applied on top of both |
Between $76 and $119 of a Player’s carton is tax before anyone has paid for tobacco.
The closest native equivalents
Player’s sits mid-market — consistent and familiar rather than premium or heavy:
| Brand | Character | Carton |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Full | Consistent full flavour, the benchmark native brand | $42.00 |
| Canadian Classics Original | Balanced full flavour, strength without weight | $42.00 |
| Canadian Lights | Light, 0.6mg nicotine | $42.00 |
| Canadian Classics Silver | The lighter option | $42.00 |
If you smoke regular Player’s, start with Canadian Full or Canadian Classics Original. If you smoke Light or Extra Light, Canadian Lights or Canadian Ultra Lights.
Price comparison
| Carton of 200 | |
|---|---|
| Player’s in Canadian retail | $135 – $165 |
| Native carton from MohawkSmoke | $42.00 |
| Native rollies, bag of 200 | $27.00 |
| At 40+ carton volume pricing | $31.50 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Player’s still sold in Canada?
Yes, in plain packaging under current Canadian regulations.
What happened to Player’s Light?
The name changed in 2007 when Canadian manufacturers agreed to stop using “light” and “mild” on packaging. The product itself didn’t change.
Who makes Player’s cigarettes?
Imperial Tobacco Canada, the Canadian arm of British American Tobacco.
Why is Player’s so expensive now?
Tax. Federal excise duty plus provincial tobacco tax accounts for $76 to $119 per carton before sales tax, and both rise most years.
What’s the closest alternative to Player’s?
Canadian Full or Canadian Classics Original at $42 a carton.
Do you sell Player’s?
No. We carry native brands from $42 a carton.
More brands: see our guide to international cigarette brands in Canada.
Health warning: Smoking is addictive and harmful to health. These products contain nicotine and are for adult smokers of legal smoking age only.