An almost 200-page proposal from the European Commission aims to raise taxes on tobacco products in the EU. The proposed tax levels would vary depending on the economic status of each country. For Germany, this could mean a tax hike of roughly 20% With the average pack of cigarettes currently costing around €9, prices could soon climb above €10.
The document suggests that the European Union intends to curb tobacco consumption “through tax measures to reduce the demand for tobacco.” According to the proposal, higher taxes would act as a “price signal” to communicate that “smoking is indeed harmful and should be combated by all means.”
Though public health policy remains the responsibility of individual member states, the Commission frames the initiative as a fiscal measure. Implementation would fall under national finance ministries.
The move is typical of the European Union’s way of handling health care issues in the bloc. Financial measures and taxation are the usual tools for Brussels to coerce people rather than implementing educational programs—or even leaving it up to each member state.
