Else Beekman
Smokers across Spain are facing yet another price hike as several tobacco brands increase their retail prices. The new pricing adjustments, effective from Saturday, February 1, were officially announced in the Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE), Spain’s government bulletin.
As has become customary, tobacco prices in Spain are regularly reviewed and adjusted, affecting smokers in the Peninsula, the Balearic Islands, and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla. This latest update, published in the BOE, applies to various tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, and pipe tobacco.
The pricing modifications impact all Tobacco and Stamp Dispensaries (Expendedurías de Tabaco y Timbre) within Spain’s monopoly system, which sets the official prices for tobacco products in retail outlets.
Brands affected by the price increase
The new price list details specific brands that will see an increase in cost. While not all tobacco brands are affected, some notable changes include:
Cigars and cigarillos
- Linea D’Oro Red (pack of 20): €2.00
Pipe tobacco
- Ziggy Brazilian Gold (250g): €16.25
- Ziggy Brazilian Gold (50g): €3.40
- Ziggy Green Hapocalyx (250g): €16.25
- Ziggy Green Hapocalyx (50g): €3.40
- Ziggy Green Hapocalyx (990g): €63.60
- Ziggy Love Diamond (250g): €16.25
- Ziggy Love Diamond (50g): €3.40
- Ziggy Lust Crown (250g): €16.25
- Ziggy Lust Crown (50g): €3.40
- Ziggy Purple Starburst (250g): €16.25
- Ziggy Purple Starburst (50g): €3.40
- Ziggy Rainbow Blast (250g): €16.25
- Ziggy Rainbow Blast (50g): €3.40
- Ziggy Red Starburst (250g): €16.25
- Ziggy Red Starburst (50g): €3.40
- Ziggy Rubi Shade (250g): €16.25
- Ziggy Rubi Shade (50g): €3.40
- Ziggy Summer Sunrise (250g): €16.25
- Ziggy Summer Sunrise (50g): €3.40
- Ziggy Summer Sunrise (990g): €63.60
- Ziggy Tropical (250g): €16.25
- Ziggy Tropical (50g): €3.40
Smoking and health
According to the latest data from Spanish health authorities, around 22% of the adult population in Spain are smokers. While smoking rates have slightly declined in recent years, they remain relatively high compared to other European countries. Smoking-related illnesses claim the lives of over 60,000 Spaniards annually, averaging approximately 160 deaths per day. It is estimated that smoking accounts for around 15% of all deaths in Spain.
Government plan for a tobacco-free generation
In April 2024, the Spanish government approved the Comprehensive Plan for the Prevention and Control of Tobacco Use 2024-2027, aiming to reduce tobacco consumption and achieve a tobacco-free generation in Spain. The plan included measures such as expanding smoke-free areas, regulating emerging products like nicotine pouches and herbal products, and implementing plain packaging for cigarettes and rolling tobacco. These initiatives seek to denormalise tobacco use, especially among young people, and align with European health standards.
While the latest price hike may seem minor, for regular smokers, these incremental increases add up over time. Consumers who rely on specific brands should check the official BOE list to see if their preferred tobacco products are affected.
Also read: New tobacco prices september 2024