Claudia Moll, the SPD politician focusing on health policy, supports the planned increase in tobacco taxes, describing the measure as logical. However, she expresses doubt that raising prices will significantly reduce the number of people who smoke.
Speaking on the POLITICO Berlin Playbook Podcast, Moll shared her personal experience, describing herself as a “hardcore smoker.” She admitted that even after trying methods like acupuncture and hypnosis to quit, the changes had not stuck. “As soon as I left the practice, I lit up again,” she said.
Based on her own observations, the health politician is skeptical that price increases will fundamentally alter the behavior of many smokers. She noted that even when financial resources were limited, people found ways to continue smoking. Furthermore, Moll voiced concern that higher tobacco taxes could inadvertently lead to a boost in the black market.
Instead of adding the additional tax revenue to the overall federal budget, Moll would prefer that the funds be allocated directly to the healthcare system. “I would like that money to go to health. Not to the budget,” she stated.
Despite her reservations about the effectiveness of the price hikes, she maintains that increasing consumption taxes is generally justifiable. When asked whether similar taxes should be applied to alcohol, Moll responded affirmatively, emphasizing that the measures should be comprehensive-applying not just to spirits, but to everything.
