“Tobacco-free month” began in France this Friday, November 1st. This operation, encouraged by the public authorities, is marked by an increase in the price of a packet of cigarettes throughout the world.
This Friday, November 1, coincides with the start of “no tobacco month”. France is one of the places where the price of a pack of cigarettes is the most expensive, but is still far from being in first place in the ranking.
Our country is not an ally of smoking, that is a certainty. In around twenty years, the price of packets of cigarettes has more than doubled in the country and this increase is not ready to stop. However, on an international scale, French smokers are not the worst off, since prices can reach peaks, according to the Numbeo indicator.
Switzerland: 9.44 euros
It is the only country in this ranking where the price does not reach the symbolic bar of 10 euros. In Switzerland, a quarter of the population aged over 15 smokes, a situation similar to that in France.
Finland: 10 euros
The Nordic country is one of the most virulent in the fight against smoking. In 2021, barely 9.9% of the population said they were daily smokers, due to drastic government measures, such as the unique tobacco taste for electronic cigarettes.
Singapore: 10.98 euros
The small Asian country of nearly 5.5 million has implemented several restrictions in the country, such as banning smoking before the age of 21 or in public parks and gardens. Taxes are also high, pushing the price up to around 11 euros.
France: 12 euros
France is one of the countries with the most smokers in Europe, with 24.5% of daily smokers. But the government announced, last November, a new plan to combat smoking, with the price of the package which increased on Friday, November 1, to 12 euros on average. The objective is to make a pack of cigarettes cost 13 euros by 2027.
Canada: 12.87 euros
Since August 1, 2023, Canada has introduced a new type of tobacco prevention. Indeed, in addition to the package, the traditional warning message is written on the filter itself, in English and French.
Norway: 13.12 euros
Norway is a pioneer in the fight against tobacco. In 2004, it banned consumption in public places and the price quickly rose (11 euros in 2018). Since then, the price has undergone some changes due to taxes and inflation. Likewise, Norwegians have become fans of snus (12% of the population in 2018), a sucking tobacco, instead of the traditional cigarette (11%).
United Kingdom: 15.20 euros
In October 2023, former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced his intention to create a “tobacco-free generation”, by raising the legal age for the right to smoke. Currently set at 18 years, it could be increased each year, with the aim of not encouraging minors to start early. These measures are accompanied by high taxes, causing packages to cost more than 15 euros on average.
Ireland: 15.50 euros
Ireland is considered to be the most restrictive country in Europe on tobacco consumption. The Irish Ministry of Health has also revealed an ambitious objective: less than 5% of smokers in the population by 2030. To achieve this, several restrictive rules have been put in place and in particular a prohibitive price: 15 .50 euros, the most expensive package in Europe.
New Zealand: 21.46 euros
New Zealand came close to ratifying a law that would have banned the sale of cigarettes to anyone born after 2008 in the country, in a “generational smoking ban”. But the government ultimately renounced this law, fearing the development of the black market. For the rest, the price of tobacco is extremely high, at more than 21 euros.
Australia: 25.97 euros
This is a price that may seem extreme. Australia is the only country in the world where the price of a pack of cigarettes exceeds 25 euros. And it will even be 30 euros in a few years, after extreme measures taken by the government, including an increase in taxes of 5% per year for the next three years.
