Increasing tobacco taxes and prices is a key tool to reduce tobacco consumption among young Europeans, although the effect is not the same in all countries or between men and women . This is the conclusion of a study led by the Tobacco Control Unit of the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), which has analyzed data from more than 12,000 young people between 15 and 24 years old from 26 countries in the European Union.
The research results, published in the journal The Lancet Regional Health – Europe , show that a one euro increase in the price of a pack of cigarettes is associated with a 3.4% reduction in consumption among young men . However, among young women the impact is less significant, suggesting that tax policies do not affect all groups in the same way.
Differences according to gender and country
According to the authors, young men are more sensitive to price increases because they have less of their own income, while women could be more influenced by social factors, such as access to tobacco through friends or family.
The impact of tobacco price increases also varies by country. In southern Europe, a clearer relationship has been observed between price increases and reductions in youth consumption , while in other regions the effect is more limited.
The application of the minimum age law, still insufficient
All EU member states set the legal age for purchasing tobacco at 18. However, the study suggests that this does not always translate into a real reduction in youth consumption . In many countries, establishments do not adequately verify the age of buyers, and young people can easily obtain tobacco through vending machines or online sales. “The problem is not the law itself, but its insufficient enforcement,” the authors point out.
To reverse this situation, the researchers propose intensifying inspections at points of sale, gradually eliminating vending machines and restricting online sales. They also recommend promoting educational and social actions to denormalize tobacco consumption among adolescents and young people.
Towards a “smoke-free generation”
Despite the reduction in youth smoking over the last decade, 1 in 5 young Europeans (around 10.4 million people aged 15-24) still smoked in 2023. This figure remains high compared to other high-income regions and puts the European Union far from its goal of achieving a “smoke-free generation” with a prevalence of less than 5% by 2040.
Experts urge the EU and national governments to strengthen tobacco taxation , reduce price differences between countries, more strictly enforce restrictions on sales to minors and develop prevention strategies adapted to gender differences and the social reality of each region.