Legislation, Lithuania, Markets and Companies

The Government has also approved of another draft law forbidding children under 18 years old to smoke possess or carry tobacco products. The Seimas must make the final decision as to whether this draft law will become effective, reports LETA/ELTA, referring to Respublika.

Kaunas University of Medicine study showed that 34% of men and 15% of women smoked daily in Lithuania, in 2010. Time will show whether such harsh images on legally sold cigarette packets encourage more smokers think about their health or on the contrary, lead to the growth of contraband cigarette trafficking business.

Head of Communication Division of Customs Department Henrika Rukseniene says that the volume of smuggled cigarettes entering Lithuania generally grows during the crisis period and the excise increases. According to the Department of Statistics, last year one Lithuanian citizen 15 years and older had consumed 987 cigarettes per year, more than in 2010 when the number of cigarettes was 863, and in 2009 – 947, but less then in 2004 – 2008 when the rate was 1,400 cigarettes per person. However, the figures of real tobacco consumption are much higher because smuggled cigarettes are not included into the formal statistics.