Disposable vapes to double in price; other changes to follow
The Ministries of Health and Finance have joined forces to limit the availability of nicotine products. Despite ongoing efforts, 30% of people in Poland still smoke cigarettes, and vaping is becoming increasingly popular among teenagers and adolescents.
On 28 July, representatives from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health briefed the Sejm subcommittee on public health regarding new measures to reduce tobacco consumption. Among these measures is a plan to increase the prices of tobacco products further. Deputy Minister of Finance Jarosław Neneman announced that by 2027, a packet of cigarettes will cost 26-27 PLN (more than €6).
Related
- Polish Minister of Health announces plans to ban disposable vapes
- TikTok lawyer explains government’s plans to solve vaping problem among youth
- UK Prime Minister announces ban on disposable vapes
- Another country bans disposable vapes. Reason? Environmental and health hazard
- No more vapes. Government at war over youth health
Millions in Poland use tobacco products
This announcement raised concerns for Marcin Dobski of TV Republika, who wrote on X: "Millions of people are being forced to break their habit. I will continue to smoke, but the government is shooting itself in the foot with such a move." According to rynekzdrowia.pl, around 30% of adults in Poland smoke, and one in four teenagers and adolescents use e-cigarettes.
Journalist Lukasz Zboralski offered a different perspective, writing: "I don’t know... Maybe it’s a good idea to increase the price of cigarettes? We end up paying a lot for cancer treatment later." A popular cardiologist echoed this sentiment on X: "Smoking should be expensive. It makes it harder for young people to start and encourages some to quit. Concerns about smuggling and loss of excise tax? Do what you want. If you prefer to conspiratorially ask a random guy for a packet of cigarettes and then hide from the police, feel free."
The hidden cost of smoking: Far beyond monetary expenditure
A viral TikTok video recently gained popularity, featuring cardiologists discussing what they would never do, given their profession. All the professionals and specialists unanimously placed smoking at the top of their list, emphasising both cigarettes and vaping.
At the subcommittee meeting, Deputy Minister Neneman highlighted the ministry's intention to excise all nicotine-containing products, including those not currently taxed. He announced, "We also propose a PLN 40 levy on vapes. This would apply to both single-use and reusable devices." The Institute for Economic Forecasting and Analysis has calculated that the average price of a disposable vape in Poland is currently no more than PLN 30. Consequently, these products will become more than twice as expensive.
