The increase is expected with new anti-smoking legislation in the New Year
The Prime Minister is to announce a new increase in the special tax placed on tobacco in Spain today, Friday. The cabinet intends to collect an additional 1.2 billion € with the increase which is expected to be enforced at the same time as the new anti-smoking legislation at the start of next year.
Currently the State collects some 8 billion € a year from cigarettes alone, before part of that is shared out among the regions which participate in the tax.
In theory the tax is justified from a health perspective, claiming that it contributes to reducing smoking, especially among the young.