Trends in tobacco sales in Germany

Abstract

Based on data from the tobacco tax revenue statistics provided by Germany’s Federal Statistical Office, we analyse the development of sales of various tobacco products. In 2016, per capita consumption of tobacco products taxed in Germany was 918 manufactured cigarettes, 37 cigars/cigarillos, 308 g fine cut (equivalent to 462 cigarettes), and 31 g of (water) pipe tobacco. Between 1991 and 2016, the sale of manufactured cigarettes decreased by nearly half, while the sale of fine cut increased by around two thirds. If the amount of fine cut is expressed as cigarette equivalents (whereby 1kg of fine cut equals 1,500 cigarettes) and added to the number of manufactured cigarettes sold, then cigarette sales have decreased by one third since 1991. Numerous facts indicate that measures implemented in the context of a more restrictive tobacco control policy, such as tax increases and smoking bans, have contributed to this decrease in tobacco sales.