The Colombian Congress is currently advancing a new bill that seeks to increase taxes on conventional cigarette packs by $8,400 over a two-year period and create a new tax on electronic cigarettes. The move comes as part of an effort to reduce consumption and protect public health, particularly among young people and children.
Colombia currently has one of the lowest prices for both conventional and electronic cigarettes, according to the Anáas and Proeza Foundations. This low cost has made these products more accessible, even to minors. Representative Carolina Giraldo Botero pointed out that "vapes are still placed next to chewing gum in stores, and children are even pressed against the display case or trying to see what they're all about. It's marketing that is very focused on minors."
The proposed tax increase could have a significant impact on consumer behavior. "A device, a vape that today may cost $40,000, with the tax could cost around $60,000, and we believe that could tell people: I might slow down my consumption compared to what I'm consuming now," Giraldo added.
The bill's proponents cite the overwhelming data on the negative health impacts of conventional cigarette consumption. According to Blanca Llorente, Research Director of the Anáas Foundation, "If in Colombia we have 3.5 million smokers, half of those smokers will die before reaching 70 years of age and will suffer serious diseases: cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and very serious respiratory diseases."
Research from the Center for Studies in Social Protection and Health Economics suggests that the proposed tax increase would not necessarily lead to an increase in cigarette smuggling. The bill has garnered support from organizations such as the Colombian League Against Cancer, Red Papás, and the National Cancer Institute, who have called for joining efforts to protect young people and children from the harmful effects of smoking and vaping.
