EU tobacco use and policy

EU-wide data show a modest decline in daily tobacco and nicotine‑product use, falling to 16.5% of adults in 2025 from 17.5% in 2022. Men (20.8%) remain more likely than women (12.6%) to use these products daily, with the highest prevalence among adults aged 35‑49 (21.3%). Bulgaria (26.3%) records the peak national rate, while the Netherlands (9.9%), Ireland (11.7%) and Belgium (13.6%) sit at the low end. Between 2022 and 2025, daily use fell in 17 member states, most sharply in Spain and Luxembourg (‑2.1 pp), while Croatia and Lithuania saw modest increases (+2.7 pp each). Overall, 77.5% of EU residents reported no tobacco‑related product use in the preceding year. The European Commission estimates tobacco‑related health‑care and productivity losses at about €80.7 billion annually.

In Romania, smoking remains a major public‑health challenge: a Eurobarometer survey confirms that 34% of adults smoke, the third‑highest rate in the Union, and roughly 30,000 deaths are attributed to tobacco each year despite a decade of higher taxes, consumption restrictions and advertising bans.

The EU is preparing revisions to the Tobacco Products Directive and Tobacco Excise Directive that would harmonise minimum taxes across member states and impose stricter limits on alternative nicotine products, including possible bans on disposable e‑cigarettes, flavored vaping liquids and nicotine pouches. The European Commission is expected to present the final proposal before the end of the year, which could further reshape the market for less‑harmful smoking alternatives across the bloc.