An overview of tobacco regulations in popular expat destinations
The fight against smoking is gaining momentum in a growing number of countries, taking the form of increasingly severe laws to restrict tobacco consumption. Most of them seem to be sending a strong signal: "either you move or you keep smoking".
Germany
In Germany, as in many countries, cigarettes are banned in public buildings (administrations, hospitals, cinemas, universities, etc.), train stations, airports, restaurants, and cafes. There are smoking areas intended for smokers, particularly in train stations and airports. On the other hand, you will be asked to leave the bar or restaurant if you want to smoke. Be careful with your cigarette butts: they must be thrown in ashtrays and especially not abandoned on the street. But German legislation is considered lax in this matter. Germany is one of the few European countries that still tolerates tobacco advertising. Consumption has soared since the lockdowns, especially among young people. In early 2023, the government promised to strengthen tobacco laws. This strengthening will involve regular increases in the price of a pack of cigarettes. Currently, a pack cost on average 7.5 euros (20 cigarettes). However, the recent legalization of cannabis has been raising as many questions as concerns.
Portugal, Spain, and Italy
On May 11, 2023, Portugal voted for a new wave of measures restricting tobacco consumption. Since that date, smoking on covered terraces, near hospitals, or schools has been banned. Selling tobacco near places where smoking is banned will also be prohibited, even for sales in vending machines. Spain has taken a similar step. If you thought you'd have a smoke to celebrate your move on a Spanish beach, you're wrong. Barcelona has banned smoking on its beaches since 2021. The measure came as a blow to restaurants and cafes in the region, but the regional authorities support it and even want it to be extended to "eradicate tobacco from public spaces." Faced with an increased number of smokers, Italy is also considering tightening its anti-tobacco measures.
Mauritius
Mauritius recently tightened its anti-tobacco measures, too. Its latest plan (May 31, 2023), praised by the World Health Organization (WHO), introduces the neutral cigarette pack and strengthens the ban on smoking in all enclosed public places and some outdoor places (beaches, bus stops, gardens, terraces of cafes and restaurants, etc.). Don't even imagine lighting your cigarette while driving; smoking in your car is prohibited, even when parked. In case of infringement, you risk fines of 5,000 to 10,000 Mauritian rupees (100 to 200 euros) and one year in prison in case of recidivism. Like Portugal, Mauritius banned the sale of cigarettes near schools, educational, sports, or leisure institutions.
Don't count on e-cigarettes either; they are banned. Since May 31, 2023, all new recreational products containing nicotine have been banned. Heated tobacco devices and non-smoked tobacco products are also prohibited. At the forefront of the fight against tobacco in Africa, Mauritius is determined to win its battle against smoking, especially for the younger generations.
United States
Are you planning a move to the United States? The world's leading power has long embarked on a series of anti-tobacco measures. This precocity explains why only one in nine Americans claims to smoke cigarettes. In the United States, you cannot smoke as you please, even if you are in the city center or in your building. Successive governments have tapped into the wallet: a pack of cigarettes can cost up to 18 euros. Here's a good reason to quit. The Obama administration even tackled the substance itself by reducing the nicotine content in packs of cigarettes. In the United States, cigarettes are definitely out of fashion. But beware: vaping seems to be gaining popularity, especially among young people. Doctors are divided on the benefits or harms of e-cigarettes. Does it really lead to creating a "tobacco-free generation"? Can you substitute cigarettes with e-cigarettes, or should you try to quit cigarettes completely? In France, the same debates have led to increased vigilance regarding electronic cigarettes, accused of causing tolerance to nicotine.
Sweden
You might think you'll find the good life in Sweden and vape peacefully. No luck. Sweden has banned cigarettes and e-cigarettes, too. In August 2019, a new law further restricts cigarette use. Tobacco and vaping are prohibited in bus shelters, outdoor terraces, and even on the street.
Australia
Are you hoping to bypass Swedish strictness by relocating to Australia? There again, it's a bad choice. The country is one of the most severe regarding anti-tobacco plans. Australia has less than 12% of daily smokers. Smoking in public places is prohibited. You still have a small loophole on the street. But don't count on your vape. In May 2023, the government voted for an ambitious plan (plan 2023-2030) to further reduce cigarettes and eradicate e-cigarettes. The government believes that vaping opens a dangerous breach towards cigarettes, especially among young people. Since January 1, 2024, the import of disposable e-cigarettes has been banned. Tobacco taxes (5% per year) have also been introduced since 2023.
New Zealand
At the end of 2022, the government of the time, led by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, voted for an ambitious law for a "generational ban on smoking." The measure raised the legal age of consumption of tobacco each year to protect young people. In concrete terms, people born after 2008 would no longer have been able to buy cigarettes. But in November 2023, the new government abandoned the project. Christopher Luxon, the new Prime Minister, feared an explosion of tobacco sales on the black market and a significant drop in revenue for the State. The head of government acknowledges the windfall that tobacco taxes represent, without however, making it the source that motivated his backtracking.
France
Like many other countries, France has developed a solid anti-tobacco plan based on regular increases in the price of a pack of cigarettes (currently 12 euros per pack). It is easier to understand why many French people are rushing to stock up in Belgium (around 10 euros per pack), Germany (7.5 euros), Spain, and Italy (5.5 euros). Since 2020, the State has relied on a decree specifically limiting tobacco imports from other European Union (EU) countries. But in March 2024, the EU forced France to reverse its decision. Tobacconists and anti-tobacco organizations are furious. But the State has yet to say its last word: its anti-tobacco plan 2023-2027 will increase the price of a pack of cigarettes to 13 euros, increase public places without tobacco (beaches, public parks, etc.), and prohibit the sale of vaping products. In France, tobacco causes 75,000 deaths per year. Here's another good reason to quit smoking.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
On the other hand, you won't encounter any difficulties if you relocate to Bosnia and Herzegovina and, more generally, to southwestern Europe. Cigarettes are still very present there, among adults and young people alike. In Bosnia and Herzegovina alone, it is believed that tobacco is the cause of more than 10,000 deaths per year. The federal government is struggling to implement an anti-tobacco plan. Since the beginning of 2023, smoking in closed public places has been prohibited. In theory, therefore, bars and restaurants should be affected by the measure. In practice, no one will be offended to see you smoking; on the contrary, most people do. The law is, in principle, limited to the Bosniak-Croat Federation, which shares the country's administration with the Republika Srpska. In this Republic, there is no anti-tobacco law.
Japan
Japan definitely needs to catch up in the campaign against tobacco, but that doesn't mean the authorities are resting. Forget about having a smoke while walking down the street: it's forbidden. Don't try to play the "expatriate who wasn't aware" card. You won't escape the 40 euro fine. Many clearly marked smoking areas are provided for your smoker colleagues and you. In Japan, you don't smoke on the street, but you can do it in designated smoking spaces in private places (restaurants, cafes, etc.). Buying cigarettes is very simple and inexpensive: only 3 to 4 euros a pack for cigarettes in all convenience stores around the corner. Anti-tobacco associations were hoping for further progress during the 2020 Olympics, but according to the WHO, Japan is still lagging. The very influential tobacco industry is to be blamed. But don't take advantage of this to gobble up your money in packs of cigarettes. On the contrary, you could take advantage of it to try to quit smoking.
More tips for quitting smoking during your stay overseas
Your international relocation can be a strong source of motivation to help you quit smoking. But before you extinguish your last cigarette, take stock of yourself. Are you a heavy smoker or an occasional smoker? Knowing your smoking profile helps you understand your level of dependence in order to choose the best tobacco cessation strategy for your situation.
Consider getting help from a healthcare professional and tell them about your plans to move abroad. They can offer you a personalized plan and, possibly, recommend colleagues in your host country.
There is no "futile" reason to quit smoking; you might have the desire to save money, be in better health, or have a baby on the way. Quitting smoking to have nicer teeth or better skin is just as valid as quitting to increase your purchasing power.
Nicotine substitutes, cognitive behavioral therapy, personalized coaching, etc. are some of the ways to quit smoking. Integrate your smoking cessation project into your life abroad. See it from a positive perspective: being free from tobacco will make you appreciate your expat life even more.
