Smoking in Czech Republic
In Czech Republic, smoking is legal but there some restrictions and regulations around tobacco. Under these regulations, the sale and use of cigarettes are legal. Purchasing them online and from vending machines is permitted. Also, importing cigarettes for trade is allowed with an appropriate license. However, health warnings on cigarette packaging are required, the minimum legal age for purchasing tobacco products is 18 years, and there are legal restrictions on smoking in public places. A total taxation rate of 75.63% including an excise tax rate of 28.27% are applied on cigarettes. Statistics show that in 2024 the Czech Republic had around 2.4 million current adult smokers, corresponding to an adult current smoking prevalence of 26.3%. This indicates a slight reduction from 2022 when the current smoking prevalence was 27.5%. Among adult males, the current smoking prevalence was 30.8%, while among adult females it was 21.9% in 2024. The adult daily smoking prevalence was 18.2% in 2023. Mortality data show that in 2021 tobacco smoking led to 15,764 deaths in the country, including 11,007 among males and 4,757 among females. Overall, smoking accounted for 11.37% of all deaths in the Czech Republic in 2021, including 15.1% of male deaths and 7.24% of female deaths.
Read articles from Czech Republic
October 10, 2024 by expats.cz
Czechia to tighten kratom and hemp regulations, backtracks on full e-cigarette ban
The Czech Republic is set to implement significant new regulations on substances such as kratom, low-THC hemp, and flavored e-cigarettes. These measures aim to protect young people from the risks associated with psychoactive substances and promote safer consumption practices. Amended legislation on addictive substances will restrict the sale of kratom and low-THC hemp starting in December. The Senate recently approved the amendment, which limits sales of these products to adults in specialized stores and prohibits sales through vending machines. The legislation also mandates age verification for online purchases and bans items resembling toys or candy to deter children from accessing these substances.
September 10, 2024 by clearingtheair.eu
Czech Republic to ban flavoured vapes and hike tax
The Czech Republic plans to ban flavored vapes, except tobacco, next year. This move, coupled with a new tax, has sparked criticism from vape industry leaders, who argue that the ban could hinder smoking cessation efforts. Studies show flavored vapes help smokers quit, making the ban counterproductive. The government's decision also contradicts its previous support for vaping as a smoking cessation tool. Critics warn the ban may lead ex-smokers to revert to conventional cigarettes or turn to the black market. Advocates suggest focusing on limiting vape access to minors instead of implementing a blanket ban on flavors. Similarly, the UK is considering similar restrictions on flavored vapes to deter youth vaping.
September 02, 2024 by praguemorning.cz
Czech Health Ministry Wants to Ban Sweet-Flavoured Electronic Cigarettes
The Czech Health Ministry plans to amend a decree that could severely impact the e-cigarette industry by banning all flavors except tobacco and key additives in e-liquids. Industry representatives fear a collapse due to this move, emphasizing that selling tobacco-flavored products without common ingredients would be unfeasible. A new excise tax on e-cigarettes is also on the horizon, raising concerns about the government's inconsistent approach given e-cigarettes' role in smoking reduction. Experts warn the ban could lead to increased tobacco use or smuggling. The Chamber of Electronic Vaping advocates for restricting e-cigarette access to minors instead of an outright ban.
May 06, 2024 by ecigintelligence.com
New mix of MEPs may change Europe’s conservatism on novel tobacco products
EU MEP Radka Maxová predicts a shift towards harm reduction policies in tobacco control within the European Parliament. She highlights potential influences from newly elected members and the need for nuanced regulation of novel tobacco products. Despite conservative positions dominating the EU Commission's tobacco policy proposal, there's growing awareness of harm-reduction benefits. Maxová emphasizes the importance of evidence-based harm reduction strategies and the need to differentiate between harmful and safer tobacco alternatives. Diverse opinions among MEPs and member states pose challenges to revising EU tobacco directives.
October 23, 2023 by expats.cz
Czech ban on flavored e-cigarettes goes into effect from Monday, Oct. 23
Starting on Monday, the sale of flavored heated tobacco will be banned in the Czech Republic as required by a European directive. EU member states must incorporate the ban into their legal frameworks with effect from October 23, and the directive does not allow for any transitional period for the sale of existing stock. Various flavors are already prohibited in traditional cigarettes, and this ban will now apply to heated tobacco products. Tobacco companies argue that flavored tobacco products are popular among users, and the U.S. experience with such a ban has shown that some people switch back to regular cigarettes.
October 20, 2022 by radio.cz
Could Czechia become second EU country to legalise recreational cannabis?
Currently, only one EU country has legalised recreational cannabis – and despite popular misconception, it is not the Netherlands, where the sale of cannabis is tolerated at licensed coffeeshops, but cultivation, supply and possession of cannabis still remain criminal offences. In December 2021, Malta became the first EU country to legalise cannabis for recreational use – and Czechia may be well on its way to becoming the second. If national anti-drug coordinator Jindřich Vobořil’s proposed plan comes into effect in 2024 as he hopes, Czechia could become the second EU country to legalise the recreational use of cannabis. [...]
June 07, 2022 by ecigintelligence.com
Czechia embraces harm reduction, looks to include it in public health strategy
The Czech Republic is set to become the main EU proponent of tobacco harm-reduction policy following a change in philosophy among leaders, and is planning to implement a new decree for nicotine pouches in the near future as a result.
A new action plan is now expected to be debated, which will set harm reduction as part of the country’s public health strategy going forward, according to Ondřej Jakob, a spokesperson for the Czech Ministry of Health.
August 14, 2018 by euronews.com
Visiting Europe’s major cities has the same health impact as smoking 1 to 4 cigarettes
According to a European study published on Friday, air pollution is so high in major European cities that spending a long weekend there could have the same health impacts as smoking between one and four cigarettes. The European Association of Transport and Environment compared the fine particle contamination of Europe’s 10 most visited cities this summer by converting it to the number of cigarettes smoked.
May 14, 2018 by praguemonitor.com
Czechs smoking less since ban in restaurants took effect
The number of smoked cigarettes fell on average by three a day among Czech smokers several months after the smoking ban in restaurants came into force, Charles University and Teaching Faculty addiction experts have told CTK, referring to the results of a survey among 130 smokers.
However, since the results cannot be related to the whole population, another survey is being prepared.
"We were watching the smokers in the surgeries in Prague for seven months," expert Adam Kulhanek said.