Sales of cigarettes and rolling tobacco down

The amount of manufactured and hand-rolled cigarettes sold in 2008 declined 3 percent relative to 2007. At the same time, Dutch consumer spending on these products increased 4 percent. Since the turn of the century, sales of manufactured and hand-rolled cigarettes have dropped by 21 percent.

Per capita sales of cigarettes and rolling tobacco

Sales down

Last year 14.9 billion cigarettes were sold, 2 percent down on 2007. Sales of rolling tobacco dropped by 4 percent to just over 10.3 million kg. With 3.6 million, the number of smokers hardly changed.

Per capita in the population of 12 years and older 1,057 cigarettes were sold last year, as against 1,084 in 2007. Per capita consumption of hand-rolled cigarettes dropped from 768 in 2007 to 734 in 2008.

The sales reduction was partly due to considerably higher prices and rigid enforcement of the Tobacco Act. On 1 July 2008, a smoking ban for the entire hotels and restaurants sector was introduced in the Netherlands.

Changes in some key figures, 2007-2008

Dutch spend more on cigarettes and rolling tobacco

Despite last year’s reduction in sales, the Dutch spent more money on manufactured cigarettes and rolling tobacco. Spending on these tobacco products rose by nearly 4 percent last year to just under 4.1 billion euro due to considerably higher prices.

More excise duty in government coffers

The government coffers were not affected by the lower level of consumption. Excise tax proceeds increased by nearly 11 percent in 2008 to almost 2.4 billion euro.

Hans Draper