The price of a pack of cigarettes in Serbia will rise again due to the regular adjustment of excise taxes. As "Večernje novosti" wrote earlier, the price increase is expected in the second half of January or the beginning of February.
The previous practice was that manufacturers generally raise prices by 10 dinars per pack of cigarettes, which means that the cheapest will be 340, and the most expensive 620 dinars, and there could be a higher price increase.
The goal of changes in excise taxes on cigarettes is to align them with European Union standards, according to which by 2025 the state should earn at least 90 euros per 1.000 cigarettes, which is 1,8 euros per pack.
By the way, the prices of tobacco products are not automatically increased every January and July, but the Government of Serbia must approve them based on the submitted request of each manufacturer.
Inert state
Serbia is at the top of Europe in terms of the number of smokers. Based on numerous researches in the world, it has been shown that the biggest motivator for people to stop smoking is the increase in the price of tobacco products.
The former president of the Republican Commission for Tobacco Control, Srmena Krstev, notes that nothing special is being done in Serbia to reduce the number of smokers. As the most effective measure that could be taken without harming the budget, he proposes a significant increase in the price of a pack of cigarettes, which would significantly reduce the number of smokers among the poor and among the young.
"The increase in excise taxes must go above the level of inflation and the level of the percentage increase in the population's income, so that cigarettes become unaffordable, so that they are too expensive." It is an extremely effective measure. States are afraid of that, but we have data from the Economic Institute from Belgrade, it is a study conducted at the level of Serbia, which shows that if the price of cigarettes increases through excise duty and taxes, there is a decrease in smokers among the poor and young, and the state does not lose income. , indicates Krstev.
According to data provided by the Fiscal Council, cigarette prices vary significantly from over 14 euros per pack in Ireland to approximately 3 euros in Serbia and Bulgaria.
"The data show that retail prices and excise duty are lower in the countries of Central Eastern Europe (CEE) in comparison to other EU member countries, on average by about 40 percent." Retail prices and excise taxes in Serbia are currently lower than the CEE average, so it is expected that they will continue to grow in the coming period - stated the Fiscal Council.
In Europe, every fourth inhabitant smokes
The largest number of tobacco users currently, 26,5 percent, according to the report, is in the Southeast Asian region, while the European region is not far behind - with 25,3 percent.
"There are big differences in Europe, the most smoking is in the former states of the USSR, in the Balkans and in that part of southern and southeastern Europe. The measures were not taken properly, the laws, even when they are passed, are not respected enough, nor are sufficient funds allocated for it," says Dr. Krstev.
He blames the institutions for such a situation, which, he says, should adopt measures thanks to which smoking will no longer represent a normal way of behaving.
"When it is banned everywhere, when tobacco prices are raised significantly, when advertising is prohibited, when propaganda is carried out among children that it is a harmful habit", says Dr. Krstev and adds that the role of health workers who should advise patients to quit smoking.
Total ban
The Minister of Health, Danica Grujičić, said a year ago that the proposal for the Law on the Protection of the Population from Tobacco Smoke is ready and that, if that law is adopted, a complete ban on the smoking of traditional and electronic cigarettes will follow in all catering establishments and closed public spaces.
She presented the results of research conducted by NALED and the "Batut" institute, according to which 75 percent of Serbian citizens believe that cigarettes should be legally banned indoors. The minister also says that young people in Serbia give her positive criticism when it comes to the introduction of a legal ban on the consumption of cigarettes in closed rooms.
"I can't forbid anyone to smoke, but whoever wants to has an open space, so let them smoke." I keep repeating the same story - there are few well-educated smokers who ask you if a cigarette bothers you," Grujicic said earlier.
