No Tobacco Day, 90,000 deaths per year. Cigarettes for 12 euros? 60% of Italians say yes

Every year, in Italy, smoking causes over 90,000 deaths. Lung, bronchial and tracheal cancers. Cardiac, respiratory and disabling diseases. And all this because of an avoidable habit, a product that is anything but normal, but that for too long has been treated as such. Smoking is still the main preventable cause of death. And yet in our country, while the social, economic and health costs of smoking are growing – up to 26 billion euros a year – the price of a pack remains among the lowest in Europe.

On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day on May 31, established by the World Health Organization, Fondazione Umberto Veronesi Ets and Aiom (Italian Association of Medical Oncology) launch a strong and clear message: taxing smoking works. And Italy must do more.

Where tobacco costs more, people smoke less

The experiences of countries like France and Ireland are clear. In France, the average price of a pack has risen from 7 to almost 11 euros in six years, with the stated goal of reaching 13 euros by 2027. Result: between 2017 and 2022, the number of daily smokers among 17-year-olds has fallen by almost 40%. In Ireland, where a pack costs over 15 euros, the overall smoking rate has fallen from 23% to 18% in six years.

And there hasn't been a surge in smuggling or the black market, as is often feared. Simply, the more expensive tobacco becomes, the less people buy it. Especially the youngest, who are the most vulnerable to the influence of advertising and marketing by the tobacco industry.

Italy says yes to stronger measures

A new survey conducted by AstraRicerche on a representative sample of the Italian population (18-65 years) shows a surprising fact: six out of ten Italians are in favor of drastically raising taxes on tobacco, bringing the price of a pack to 11-12 euros or more. One in three Italians says they would stop smoking; another third would reduce consumption. The majority asks that the revenues be used for education, prevention and anti-smoking services. A sign of collective maturity that institutions cannot ignore.

Objective: Don't get left behind

In a world where scientific evidence is solid and available, where solutions are clear, not acting means choosing not to save lives. As Giulia Veronesi , thoracic surgeon and member of the Foundation's Scientific Committee, pointed out: "Tobacco use is responsible for 85% of lung cancer deaths," she said. "The evidence is there and it is clear: increasing excise duties on tobacco reduces consumption, prevents disease and frees up resources for the health system."

Even the president of Aiom, Francesco Perrone , is peremptory: “40% of cancer diagnoses are linked to incorrect lifestyles, first of all smoking - he says -. The increase in excise duties is one of the few measures that has proven to really work. And the data confirms it”.

Who invests and who cuts

It's not just about prevention, it's also about political priorities. In the United States, the Trump administration's choices have put the entire system of scientific research at risk: at Harvard alone, nearly 1,000 grants, worth over $2.4 billion, have been lost due to cuts in federal funding. This is evidence of what happens when you underestimate the value of public health. When you choose not to invest in the future.

Tobacco, a collective problem

Smoking affects those who have less the most. The most vulnerable groups, with less access to care, prevention, information. It affects non-smokers, exposed to passive smoking. It affects schools, work, the health system. And every day that passes without decisive action is a surrender.

Fondazione Umberto Veronesi Ets has been on the front line against smoking for over twenty years, through educational projects, awareness campaigns, advocacy activities and support for research on smoking-related tumors. Together with Aiom, it asks that Italy also do its part. Because every cigarette less is an additional life. And every day without smoking is a step towards a fairer and healthier future for everyone.