Struggles with a man’s addiction
“I work with international exhibitions, so I often visit abroad. I often go on business trips by car, so on my way back I visit various shops in other countries to buy snacks or food. I recently returned from Germany via Poland and noticed one thing that surprised me.
My husband is a heavy smoker. Although he tried the family doctor’s recommendations and all kinds of exercises or techniques, he could not get rid of the cigarette from his teeth. Last year, I finally managed to convince him to at least try to stop smoking cigarettes at home and switch to incandescent tobacco. I was happy because the stinky smell in the house was gone.
However, a week ago, I noticed that there was an ashtray on the balcony where the same cigarettes were thrown. It turns out that the man started buying cigarettes again. The house stinks again. After the confrontation, he began to explain to me that now the prices of heated tobacco have risen so much that they cost more than cigarettes. And indeed, since the New Year, the price of a pack in Lithuania has risen by about 40 cents and is now almost equal to the most expensive cigarettes. My arguments about less harm to myself and less stench were the same for him.
Just last week I passed the German border with Poland and noticed an interesting thing. At the border, there were 3 tobacco shops in one place, which looked like gas stations. There were tobacco prices near the shops that glowed like gas, I even took pictures and sent them to my husband.
Such an unusual thing caught my eye. When I entered, I was even more surprised because even though I was in Polish territory, the women working there spoke only German or English. After talking to them, I found out that most of their customers travel from other countries to buy cheaper tobacco products.
I started looking at the prices and got a little lost. Cigarette prices in Poland are quite similar – about 4-4.7 euros. But for some reason, the prices of heated tobacco are radically different. The package costs about 3.7 euros.
I started to ask why there are such big differences, smoking tobacco is much more expensive here in Lithuania, my husband is smoking cigarettes again. One jokingly told me that Polish politicians really dislike the smell of cigarettes. Although it sounded like a joke, I saw logic in her words – it’s good that odorless products cost less, if people themselves don’t care about their health, then at least the people around them need to smell the stench of cigarettes less.
After returning to Lithuania, I once again checked the price differences of the products and realized that we in Lithuania do not take into account either the smokers or the people around them who are forced to inhale that smoke into their lungs. The prices of cigarettes have barely risen, and the price of lit tobacco has barely risen by half a euro. Complete misunderstanding.
That’s what I’m thinking and I don’t understand this logic, are we promoting cigarette smoking? Is there any authority that could explain such logic and tell me what other arguments to use so that the man does not bring a ball of smoke from the balcony and poison himself or me?” – the reader Sonata was indignant.
Will propose to raise share rates for alcohol and tobacco products
Representatives of the Ministry of Finance pointed out that prices in different EU countries depend on the standard of living, consumer purchasing power, market size, incurred costs, as well as the tax and competitive environment and other reasons.
“Tax measures aim to contribute to the affordability and reduction of consumption of tobacco products and tobacco-related products (especially among young people) and public health policy goals.
As the three-year plan for increasing excise duties on tobacco products expires this year, and in order to ensure the stability and predictability of the tax policy, the Ministry of Finance prepared and submitted for consultation with the public a draft amendment to the Excise Law, which proposes to establish new excise rates for alcohol and tobacco and alternative products in 2025-2027.
It is estimated that after implementing the proposed changes in the excise tax plan, cigarettes could become more expensive next year by 0.21 euro cents per 20 units, cigars and cigarillos by 0.32 euro cents per 20 g, smoking tobacco by 0.21 euro cents per 20 g, heated tobacco and its alternative products – 0.21 euro cents for 20 units. The price of e-cigarette liquid could increase by 0.19 euro cents per 2 ml of liquid. Such changes would contribute to reducing the affordability of incandescent tobacco products.
You can find more information in the press release of the Ministry of Finance presents 2025-2027. The Ministry of Finance presents the draft excise duty plan for 2025-2027. the draft excise plan is the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Lithuania”, commented the representatives of the Ministry of Finance.
There is no such thing as harmless smoking
Head of the Prevention Coordination Department of the Drug, Tobacco and Alcohol Control Department. specialist Roberta Arbačiauskaitė emphasized that it is difficult to completely prevent the problem of the use of psychoactive substances by bans or restrictions alone.
“The Department of Drug, Tobacco and Alcohol Control takes the position that there is no such thing as harmless smoking – all methods are harmful. Substances released with smoke or vapor enter not only the smoker’s body, but also the environment. In this way, the surrounding people are exposed to the same harmful substances as the person who smokes them.
According to the Institute of Hygiene, in 2022 1,780 people died from smoking-related malignancies. in 2021 the number of such deaths decreased to 1,695 in 2022. increased again (5%), but was lower than in the period from 2016. until 2020 in 2022 men died from smoking-related malignancies 3.7 times more than women. in 2022 the average age of those who died from smoking-related malignancies was 68.5 years.
Balanced actions are very important in the tobacco control policy, because it is difficult to fully prevent the problem of psychoactive substance use by bans or restrictions alone, but education alone will also not bring the desired result. Informing about harm to health is one of the essential components of prevention. It can help reduce smoking among people, but it is important to remember that spreading information alone will not stop people from smoking.
It is important that individuals are informed and know where they can go for help to quit smoking, ensuring compliance with the law, ie tobacco products are not sold to minors.
in Lithuania in 2024 February 6 The National Stop Smoking Helpline 1819 has started its activities. By establishing this line, the Department of Drug, Tobacco and Alcohol Control is implementing one of the measures recommended by the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of the World Health Organization (WHO) for stopping tobacco addiction.
Availability of information from reliable sources is a very important component of prevention, which the Department actively develops on the website www.nerukysiu.lt, communicating on social networks, press releases based on scientific research, and social information campaigns for target groups.
Smoking cessation support services are also provided in public health offices, mental health centers and branches of the Republican Center for Addictive Diseases,” commented the head of the Prevention Coordination Department of the Drug, Tobacco and Alcohol Control Department. specialist R. Arbačiauskaitė.
This subjective opinion of the author does not necessarily coincide with the editor’s opinion: lrytas.lt is not responsible for the content of the reader.
Tags: Polish prices woman angry products sold cheaply Lithuania
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