Tobacco Prices Update: New Cigarette Pack Rates as of 1st June, Detailed by Brands
Tobacco Taboo: Cigarette Costs on the Rise for a Third Time in 2025!
*Illustration provided by our site* By Joshua "JP" Palmer* Pop Culture Columnist oursite.net Published on
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Smoking enthusiasts, buckle up! Prepare for a hefty hit to your wallet as tobacco prices increase for the third time this year. This unexpected charge only targets select brands. Curious about which ones and why? Check out below!
As of June 1, 2025, the cost of your favorite Marlboro Red Collection and Gold Collection packs will rise from 10.40 to 10.95 euros, and Marlboro Fresh will follow the same trend. Philip Morris' Kings Collection and Collection SSL will also hike from 10.40 to 10.95 euros. Moving forward, take note of the increased cost for a 30-gram pack of Gauloises, situated at 18.40 euros, compared to the current 17.90 euros. However, don't worry, most references remain unchanged.
Smokers feel temperature rise from already hot taxation
Transport yourself back to February, and the bitterness of tobacco price increases gnawed at consumers once more. The 20-pack of Dunhill Rouge experienced a 30-cent hike from 13.20 to 13.50 euros, while Gauloises Blondes Bleu saw a 20-cent rise to 12.50 euros. Bastos Rouge experienced a 20-cent ascent from 11 to 11.20 euros. Even the price of rolling tobacco increased, with the Fleur du Pays 1937 brand in 30g going from 17.30 to 17.40 euros, or Lucky Strike in 30g, which climbed 10 cents, going from 17.40 to 17.50 euros.
January 1, 2025, set the stage for these new price leaps nearly reaching an extra euro depending on the manufacturer. Most cigarette packs exceeded the 12.50 euro mark, including Lucky Strike, Camel, Winston, Philip Morris, and Rothmans. Some brands, such as Marlboro, Peter Stuyvesant, and Vogue, even surpassed the 13 euro mark.
What's the deal with climbing cigarette prices?
"Tobacco prices in France are freely determined by manufacturers," shared Cyril Lalo in 2023, external relations director for the Seita group, which manufacturers several brands, including News and Gauloises. However, considering the selling price is made up of more than 80% taxes, excise tax on tobacco products, and VAT, "When these rise significantly, prices change." But that's not the only reason for the dramatic surge in cigarette prices.
Echoes of the 2023 anti-smoking plan
France initiated an anti-smoking plan in 2023 that aimed to reach 12 euros per pack of cigarettes by 2025. This year, the official price will exceed the executive's forecasted amount, targeting a 13 euro pack by 2027. This lofty goal is partly contributed to by a modification in calculation of the tobacco price. Since December 2022, tobacco taxation is indexed on the inflation rate of the preceding year, causing yearly price inflation.
Surviving competitive markets while boosting government coffers
The government rationalized the price increases by stating that excessive price disparities with European neighbors could create sales declines, possibly fueling large parallel markets. Despite these increases, manufacturers secured their profit margins, with 65 cents allocated for every pack costing 11 euros before January 1, 2025, according to customs records. The aforementioned factors compel us to consider taking that New Year's resolution to quit smoking more seriously.
Related articles* 2025: The Ever-Changing Scene* tobacco* price* cigarette* Health* Industry
- The rising cigarette costs in 2025, marking the third increase this year, are not just a concern for smokers but also a topical issue in the realm of politics and policy-and-legislation, as the government aims to increase tobacco prices to curb smoking and boost government revenues.
- Finance and the industry sector are inextricably linked as the prices of popular cigarette brands like Marlboro, Lucky Strike, Camel, and Gauloises steadily rise due to both manufacturer decisions and government policies, affecting both consumer spending and the financial health of these companies.
- The ongoing escalation in cigarette prices, driven partly by government anti-smoking policies, is causing ripples across the general news landscape, as increased taxes on tobacco products and adjustments to tax calculation methodologies contribute to higher prices, making cigarettes more expensive and intensifying discussions on public health, economics, and politics.
