“Cergas, as part of a three-year research project, has analyzed the experience of several countries regarding the increase in excise rates on tobacco products to combat smoking, a commitment undertaken by the Veronesi Foundation. in Ireland even 16 euros. These countries have observed a significant reduction in the prevalence of smoking, by around 4 percentage points between 2017 and 2023, thus confirming the claims of the World Health Organization (WHO), namely that tobacco taxes are the single most effective measure to reduce tobacco consumption and its negative impact on the health of its consumers.” Therefore at the Adnkronos Salute Michela Meregaglia, researcher at the Cergas Sda Bocconi research center on health and social management, spoke today in the Senate at the meeting ‘Preventing tumors, protecting health: strategies and policies regarding smoking’.
The event, promoted on the initiative of Senate vice president Licia Ronzulli and organized in collaboration with the Umberto Veronesi Ets Foundation, brought together representatives from the world of politics, research and public health. Objective: discuss new measures to combat smoking with a focus on the effectiveness of tax levers as a deterrent, namely significantly increasing customs duties on tobacco products, increasing the price of a pack of cigarettes to more than 10 euros, and proportionally increasing taxes on all products containing tobacco and nicotine.
“However, in increasing excise rates on tobacco products – Meregaglia underlines – it is also important to establish other measures related to the supply of tobacco, with particular reference to legal trade, and new consumption trends, in particular the consumption of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products”.
