Italy Implements Tobacco and Vape Tax Hikes Through 2028
The Italian government has officially rolled out a long-term fiscal strategy to increase the cost of smoking and vaping, with the latest wave of price hikes taking effect on May 6. Driven by a national toll of 93,000 annual smoking-related deaths among the country’s 10 million smokers, this progressive taxation plan will systematically raise excise duties through 2028.
Following an initial adjustment in mid-April, the May increases currently affect specific traditional cigarette brands, such as Corset and The King, which now retail between €5.30 and €5.70 per pack. The cigar sector is experiencing broader impacts, with price hikes affecting everything from single cigars to premium boxes of 25.
The core of the government’s strategy is a steady escalation of the fixed excise duty levied per 1,000 cigarettes over the next few years:
| Year | Fixed Excise Duty (per 1,000 cigarettes) |
|---|---|
| 2025 | €29.50 |
| 2026 (Current) | €32.00 |
| 2028 (Target) | €38.50 |
E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are firmly in the fiscal crosshairs. The government plans to apply progressive annual tax increases to e-liquids, regardless of nicotine content, ensuring addictive alternative products are not exempt from the financial deterrents.
This inclusion is a direct response to rapidly shifting consumption habits in Italy:
- Overall Growth: Vaping and heated tobacco usage nearly doubled in just four years, jumping from 3.9% in 2021 to 7.4% in 2025.
- Youth Surge: Consumption is heavily concentrated among young adults aged 18 to 34, reaching a peak of 16.5%.
- Senior Decline: Usage drops off significantly with age, falling to a mere 1.4% among Italians over 65.
Seeking to accelerate these deterrents, a popular initiative titled “5 Euros Against Smoking” is gaining massive traction. Led by the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM) in collaboration with several prominent cancer research foundations, the campaign demands a flat €5 price increase on all tobacco and nicotine products.
Just three and a half months after its launch, the initiative has already collected 40,000 signatures. This represents 80% of the 50,000 signatures required to formally submit the drafted legislation to the Italian Parliament for debate.
- Read more: EU Plans Major Cigarette & Vape Tax Hike; Italy Protests
- News reference: L’Italie augmente de nouveau le prix du tabac
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