I'm pretty sure now that tabs for ears is common to the East Midlands, which stretches as far north as Sheffield. Assuming not in Glossop or in Lincolnshire then?
Do people use tabs for cigarettes south of Sheffield?
tabs is used occasionally in London for ciggies, but usually by older folks (something to do with an old viz strip) or people who have come to live here from places where tabs means fags.
none of my posh mates at the rugger club know what tabs means.