Tobacco price up 9% this month

The price of tobacco is set to rise by 9% on August 18.

While sales of cigarettes have dropped 4.7% since the banning of smoking in bars and cafés at the beginning of the year, the amount of rolling tobacco sold has risen 0.4%.

The price of 30g of Amsterdamer will rise from €4.50 to 4.90 (up 8.9%) and Philip Morris will rise from €4.40 to €4.80 (up 9%). Cigarette prices are also expected to be affected, according to tobacco distributor Altadis.

A spokesman at the treasury said the measure was intended to target smoking among the young.

“The price of cigarettes has risen greatly so young people have turned to using rolling tobacco,” he said.

Photo:Dan Shirley