The Federal Drug Commissioner, Hendrik Streeck (CDU), has welcomed the proposed increase in the tobacco tax passed by the Bundestag and has expressed openness to implementing further price raises. Streeck stated to the “Rheinische Post” that smoking costs approximately 131,000 lives and close to 100 billion Euros annually in Germany. He noted that according to World Health Organization (WHO) calculations, the cost of a single pack should be around 23 Euros for the tax revenue to cover these subsequent healthcare costs.
His primary focus is on public health, viewing the increased revenue as a positive side effect. According to the CDU politician, fewer smokers contribute to a reduction in cancer, heart attacks, and strokes, leading to fewer avoidable expenses for taxpayers and contributors.
Despite his satisfaction with the planned hike, Streeck emphasized the importance of this policy. Having “fought long for this and it hasn’t made friends,” he noted that after years of minor increases, tobacco is now becoming significantly more expensive, reaching about 12 Euros per pack by 2030. He stressed that this measure particularly protects children and young people, arguing that the price is most effective at the age when addiction has not yet fully set in. Streeck added that preventing people from starting smoking in the first place also means they never have to quit later in life.
The law mandating the hike in the tax on tobacco products was formally approved by the Bundestag on Thursday evening.
