At the age of 16-24, the Luxembourg government has reduced smoking rates by increasing tobacco taxes, while the use of vapes has increased significantly.
Young people have increased to 21%
According to a recent report by Tageblatt. The Luxembourg government considered and passed a law and regulation on April 21, 2023, to increase the price of tobacco. According to an announcement by the Ministry of Health. The plan is to increase the excise tax on tobacco and hand cigarettes by €0.20 as of July 1st. With this measure, the government hopes to reduce the rate of smoking in the country.
The move has attracted the attention of members of parliament. Luxembourg Socialist Party (LSAP) Mars Di Bartolomeo Yuriko Backes, Minister of Finance. (Yuriko Backes) inquired about the specific regulations on minimum tobacco prices. According to the regulations, the minimum price of a packet of 20 cigarettes is €4.70, €5.85 for 25 cigarettes, €7.05 for 30 cigarettes and €9.40 for 40 cigarettes.
Even though the Luxembourg government has increased the price of tobacco, it is still cheaper than in neighboring countries. In Germany, for example, the same 20-cigarette packet costs €5.10, €0.40 more than in Luxembourg; in Belgium, this price is €7.11, while in France it is as high as €10.30. The same price difference exists for hand cigarettes, with Luxembourg’s price being the lowest at €5.90, compared to €6.35, €13, and €23.67 in Germany, Belgium and France respectively.
Luxembourg will regularly increase its tobacco taxes and is actively working with neighboring countries and the UK customs authorities to limit the cross-border and illicit trade of large quantities of tobacco. The next tax adjustment program will be set for 2025.
Smokers are mainly concentrated in the 25-34 age
According to a joint study by the Ministry of Health and the Cancer Foundation, about 28% of Luxembourg residents will be affected by the tax adjustment, 20% of whom are daily smokers. Smokers are mainly concentrated in the 25-34 age group (36%), followed by the 16-24 age group (34%).
In addition, there has been a significant increase in the use of vapes. By 2022, 13% of respondents reported using vapes, compared to 9% by 2021. The main customers of vapes are young people, especially 16-24-year-olds, 21% of whom use vapes.
