At first glance one would say nothing, apart from harming health. Yet 50,000 people are employed in this sector, which generates tax revenues of EUR 14.5 billion.
The Tobacco Market
The discovery of America also led to the discovery of tobacco, previously only used by indigenous peoples.
After a few centuries, tobacco arrived all over the world, creating a real gold mine for the trade.
And to think that smoking used to be a status symbol of intellectuals and men of power, who sported a pipe or cigar and assumed the role of the ‘gentleman smoker’.
A bit like what was common until a few years ago in workplaces, where a cigarette with the boss was something one yearned for or could not escape as it was closely related to career opportunities.
Today, although we are on the road to a healthy lifestyle and well-being, the tobacco market is worth EUR 20 billion in Italy, with taxes collected by the state amounting to around EUR 15 billion, and evaded taxes of around EUR 280 million per year.
In Europe the damage is greater, as much as 11 billion in estimated losses, or 8.5 per cent more than in 2021.
Returning to Italy cigarette consumption fell by 12% from 2019 to 2022, so that the percentage of smokers has now reached 24%, putting the country below the European average (estimated at over 26%). It should be pointed out, however, that these individuals are approaching new generation products with reduced risk potential, such as smokeless tobacco and electronic cigarettes.
Electronic cigarettes
Disposable and even dangerous: 844 million electronic cigarettes made with lead and mercury roaming in landfills with the risk of contaminating the environment. Not to mention the lithium that could be used or recycled for far more useful purposes.
Given the seriousness of the situation, and the speed with which this sector is expanding – in Italy we speak of around 16 million e-cigs sold between January and April 2023, while in the United States there has been a 200% increase in the market over the last three years – some countries are taking action, primarily France, which will ban them from 2024. Germany and New Zealand have already banned such devices, while other states will soon follow suit.
A survey by the ACT (Alliance Against Tobacco) confirmed that about 13% of adolescents between 13 and 16 years of age have tried disposable e-cigarettes at least once.
Tobacco and the environmental impact
In addition to e-cigs, there is another factor that is less perceptible to the consumer, who only sees the end product, but which is extremely impactful on the ecosystem: the cultivation of tobacco plants.
In fact, worldwide plantations occupy roughly 5.6 million football fields, roughly the size of Switzerland. And every year they contribute around 200,000 hectares to deforestation, which instead of being used to create food, are exploited to increase smoking.
Considering that tobacco production takes place mainly in low and middle-income countries, it is easy to understand the precarious situation in which farmers find themselves, both socially and economically.
6 trillion cigarettes of which 4.5 trillion are dispersed into the environment. Beyond the potential obligation of the pocket ashtray, and the need to increase the number of public ashtrays, awareness and sensitisation are the most powerful tools we have and must use on a daily basis.
Human evolution still leaves many loose ends. Tobacco production and consumption are some of them.
Forgive me if I indulge in a personal observation on the subject, which could not be more simplistic than this: what is the point of depriving oneself of money, health, good perfume and land to cultivate in order to smoke a ‘nice’ cigarette.
You could cite the justification of obviating stress or starting a pleasant conversation, but just as simplistically I would say to you: work out and then read a book, so that next time you will have a way to converse, nicely toned and refreshed.
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