Germany Plans €11.40 Cigarette Price Hike by 2030 to Fight Youth Smoking

The German government is set to raise tobacco taxes gradually, with cigarette packs expected to cost around €11.40 by 2030. Health experts and officials are pushing for even sharper increases to curb smoking, particularly among young people. Andreas Gassen, chairman of the KBV, has called for a steep rise in the prices of tobacco and alcohol. He proposed setting the price of a cigarette pack at €20 to make it far less accessible to adolescents. Gassen also highlighted that Germany’s life expectancy lags behind the EU average, partly due to smoking and alcohol use.

Jakob Maske, a board member of the BVKJ, echoed these concerns. He suggested doubling cigarette prices to deter young smokers and also advocated for higher prices on vapes. The BVKJ, the Professional Association of Pediatricians, supports these measures to prevent smoking among youth.

Federal Drug Commissioner Hendrik Streeck has long backed higher tobacco taxes as a proven public health strategy. Gassen emphasised that early intervention is critical, as smoking and alcohol habits often start in adolescence. The government’s plan aims to make cigarettes less affordable over time. Health leaders argue that steeper price hikes could save lives by reducing youth smoking and alcohol consumption. Their proposals target both traditional tobacco and newer products like vapes.