On 18 October, the Sejm voted to raise the excise tax on tobacco products, with 236 MPs supporting the bill, 188 opposing, and two abstaining. The bill will now proceed to the Senate. If enacted, the first price increase for cigarettes will take effect in March 2025, with further hikes planned for 2026 and 2027. Ultimately, cigarette prices are expected to reach 26-27 PLN per pack.

The new tax measures will also lead to significant price increases for vaping products and other ‘novelty’ electronic tobacco items. Excise tax on vapes will rise by 50% in 2025, 20% in 2026 and 15% in 2027. According to the Association of Vaping Industry Employers, this will translate to a 170% increase in device prices. Additionally, the excise duty on e-cigarette liquids will see a 75% increase next year, with subsequent rises of 50% in 2026 and 25% in 2027.

The newly approved excise duty increases are designed to reduce tobacco and alternative product consumption, particularly among young people. Recent research has highlighted that the health risks of vapes and vaporisers are comparable to those of traditional cigarettes. A 2020 meta-analysis published in Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine stated: "Overall, vaporisation was found to have similar effects on lung and cardiovascular function as smoking."

Raising the cost of cigarettes and vaping products enjoys substantial public support. An October IBRIS poll for Radio Zet found that over 53% of Poles believe the price of tobacco products should be increased, while 27.5% feel they should remain unchanged, and 11% would prefer a price reduction. According to a 2023 report from the National Academy of Sciences, 28% of people in Poland smoke cigarettes.

Source: money.pl