Although the evidence on tobacco taxation is irrefutable and there are now signs that the tide is turning on the global tobacco epidemic, tobacco taxation was, in 2018, the WHO MPOWER measure that was least implemented at the highest level of achievement. Even more concerningly, cigarettes have become more, rather than less, affordable in many low- and middle-income countries over the past decade.

Many countries set rates at insufficient levels and increase them too infrequently, while others still use complex and inefficient taxation structures. This failure to advance tobacco taxation able to effect significant price increases constitutes a loss for governments in revenues, a loss for public health and a win for the tobacco industry...Read more...