Luxembourg has been dubbed the ‘tobacco shop of Europe’

According to the latest statistics published in Luxembourg, 31% of the country’s population are regular or occasional smokers; however, in the 16–24 age group, this figure rises to a critical 41%. Margot Heirendt, director of the Cancer Foundation, expressed deep concern that the total number of tobacco users in the country is not falling. 

Experts identify the emergence of new alternative nicotine-containing products as the main threat; through aggressive marketing, these products act as a gateway for teenagers into traditional smoking. Such products often contain extremely high doses of purified nicotine, which accelerates the development of a persistent neurobiological addiction. Lex Schaul, a public health expert, added that high concentrations of psychoactive substances cause irreparable damage to the developing brains of teenagers, whilst the long-term effects of vaping on lung tissue remain poorly understood.

Against this backdrop, Luxembourg has faced unprecedented criticism from the international community. At a recent European conference in Milan, attended by around 900 experts in the field, delegates from neighbouring countries openly accused the Grand Duchy of acting as ‘Europe’s tobacco shop’ and effectively ‘exporting cancer’. The reason for such harsh statements remains the authorities’ tax policy, which keeps cigarette prices at a minimum, thereby encouraging mass cross-border tobacco tourism from France and Germany.

Although around half of Luxembourg’s smokers say they want to kick the habit, they find it extremely difficult to do so on their own. Experts in the field note that, unlike most other developed countries, Luxembourg lacks any structured national support system for those trying to quit smoking. Most people are forced to cope with withdrawal symptoms on their own, even though it has been clinically proven that support from professional addiction specialists increases the chances of long-term remission several-fold.

Representatives of the Cancer Foundation are calling for the implementation of a comprehensive prevention strategy, which includes systematic annual increases in excise duties, a total ban on advertising, and a reduction in the geographical availability of retail outlets. In response, the Luxembourg government has traditionally argued that tobacco duties account for a significant proportion of the state budget’s revenue. Nevertheless, Margot Heirendt considers this position untenable, citing the experience of France, where a radical increase in the price of a packet of cigarettes not only reduced consumption but also led to an increase in tax revenue for the treasury. According to the National Health Observatory, the direct consequences of tobacco use are currently responsible for 11% of all deaths in Luxembourg.