German Doctors Call for €20 Cigarette Price as State Bans Spread to Playgrounds and Vapes
30.06.2026 - 14:33:15 | boerse-global.de
Germany's medical establishment is demanding a radical hike in tobacco costs, arguing that a pack of cigarettes should sell for €20—nearly double the federal government's 2030 target of €11.40. Andreas Gassen, head of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV), made the call as fresh data underscored the human toll: around 127,000 people die every year from tobacco-related causes nationwide.
The urgency is visible in local statistics. In Bielefeld alone, roughly 9,700 residents suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); medical experts estimate that some 90 percent of those cases stem from smoking.
While the price debate plays out nationally, individual states are already tightening smoking rules on the ground. Baden-Württemberg's revised Non-Smoker Protection Act took effect in early June, extending comprehensive bans to outdoor public spaces frequented by families. The list of prohibited zones now includes playgrounds, public-transit stops, outdoor swimming pools, and zoos. Crucially, the law also covers e-cigarettes, vapes, e-shishas, and tobacco heaters—a response to the rising visibility of these devices in public areas. In the city of Crailsheim, authorities have been enforcing the stricter regulations since the end of June.
Berlin is tackling the problem from a different angle. Until July 5, municipal enforcement officers are running intensified patrols targeting discarded cigarette butts. Anyone caught tossing a filter in public spaces faces fines ranging from €250 to €3,000. The campaign aims to improve both public health and urban cleanliness.
Parallel to the anti-smoking push, Baden-WĂĽrttemberg is cutting red tape in the care sector. Routine inspections for nursing homes will now occur only once every five years, freeing up resources for direct patient care. North Rhine-Westphalia announced similar steps in June, with full implementation scheduled for early 2027.
