The Ministry of health of Russia proposed to introduce an environmental tax on cigarettes for manufacturers, according to a draft of the “concept of state policy on combating tobacco consumption for years 2017-2022 and beyond”. This is reported by the newspaper “Izvestia” with reference to the final version of the anti-tobacco concept.

The ministry of health suggested a gradual increase in rates of excise duties on tobacco in 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2022, with the introduction of 10% tax on the retail sale of tobacco products and electronic cigarettes in 2017, and an “environmental tax” on cigarettes in 2018.

Moreover, the department considers it necessary to raise excise rates on tobacco products and electronic cigarettes to the European level, and also to ban all types of tax-free and duty-free sales of tobacco products. The document also proposes to prohibit the use of hookahs, wakes and electronic cigarettes in cafes and restaurants. It is also planned to impose a ban on their sale to minors.

According to the calculations of the Ministry of Health, raising the excise tax on cigarettes to the European level will additionally attract up to 800 billion rubles to the budget and save up to 2 million citizens from premature death. The head of the department stressed that due to anti-smoking measures for four years smoking among adolescents 13-15 years decreased three times, and among adults – by one third.