Smoking in Bulgaria
In Bulgaria, smoking is legal with some restrictions. The sale of cigarettes is legal, and purchasing them from vending machines is also permitted. However, buying cigarettes online is not allowed. Importing cigarettes for trade is legal with a license. However, health warnings on cigarette packaging are required, and the minimum legal age for purchasing cigarettes is 18 years. There are also legal restrictions on smoking in public places. Cigarettes are subject to a total taxation rate of 85%. As of 2024, Bulgaria had approximately 2 million adult smokers, with an adult current smoking prevalence of 34.9%. Among males, the smoking prevalence was 39.3%, and among females, it was 30.9%. In 2017, there were 2.2 million daily smokers, with an adult daily smoking prevalence of 34.4%—38% among males (data from 2019) and 21.1% among females (also from 2019). According to data from 2021, cigarette smoking led to an estimated 14,100 deaths in Bulgaria, including 10,800 among males and 3,300 among females. This indicates that smoking accounted for 8.36% of all deaths in the country, including 12.35% of male deaths and 4.06% of female deaths.
Read articles from Bulgaria
June 10, 2025 by clearingtheair.eu
Bulgaria’s blanket ban on vapes awaits Brussels approval
Bulgaria is considering a full ban on all vapes pending approval from Brussels, sparking concerns among harm reduction advocates. The legislation, backed by 197 MPs, also targets energy drinks marketed to minors. Lead sponsor Professor Kostadin Angelov suggests the ban may focus on disposable vapes for quicker implementation due to regulatory obstacles. The European Commission must be notified due to potential trade impacts. Smoke Free Sweden opposes the ban, cautioning against hindering tobacco harm reduction efforts in Europe, as it may push ex-smokers back to smoking.