Smoking in Germany at 20-year low

Wed 23rd Jan, 2013

Recent figures show that German people are smoking fewer cigarettes, with sales down to their lowest level for over 20 years. The reason is attributed to rising taxes. 

The Federal Statistics Office in Wiesbaden reported that last year 82.4 billion cigarettes were taxed - 5.9 percent less than 2011 and the lowest level since reunification.

At the same time, sales of cigars decreased slightly by ten percent and the amount of tax cut by 0.4 percent. In contrast, sales of pipe tobacco rose by 12.4 percent.

The government responded to this development by increasing tobacco tax from 1 January 2012. Additionally, further tax increases on cigarettes are planned each year through to 2015.


Suspected Hamas Member Arrested in Crete During Security Operation

Greek security authorities have announced the dismantling of an alleged terrorist cell following the arrest of a 37-year-old man of Palestinian origin on the island of Crete. The suspect was...

Austria Proposes Draft Law to Implement EU Pay Transparency Directive

Austria's Minister of Labour, Korinna Schumann of the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ), has submitted a draft law aimed at enacting the European Union's Pay Transparency Directive. The proposal was...

OpenAI Set to Transform ChatGPT Into Multifunctional Super App

OpenAI is reportedly planning a significant restructuring of its popular artificial intelligence chatbot, ChatGPT. According to recent reports referencing sources familiar with the company's internal...

Suspected Terror Attack in Israel Leaves One Dead, Several Injured

Early Sunday morning, gunfire erupted at a petrol station in Kokhav Ya'ir, a community northeast of Tel Aviv near the border with the West Bank. Witnesses reported hearing multiple shots and observed...

Austria Braces for Unsettled Weather and Cooler Temperatures Midweek

Weather conditions across Austria are set to become increasingly changeable and unsettled in the coming week, as forecasted by Geosphere Austria. The start of the week will see a brief spell of sunny...

Anthropic Urges Global Moratorium on Advanced AI Development

US-based artificial intelligence firm Anthropic has called for a coordinated global slowdown in the development of highly advanced AI systems. The company, headquartered in San Francisco, stated that...

More Quick Read Articles »
German PKV Insurance

German Private Health Insurance

Both private Health Insurance in Germany and public insurance, is often complicated to navigate, not to mention expensive. As an expat, you are required to navigate this landscape within weeks of arriving, so check our FAQ on PKV. For our guide on resources and access to agents who can give you a competitive quote, try our PKV Cost comparison tool.

Hospitals

Hospital and Clinic Directory

Germany is famous for its medical expertise and extensive number of hospitals and clinics. See this comprehensive directory of hospitals and clinics across the country, complete with links to their websites, addresses, contact info, and specializations/services.

Events

Upcoming Events

Linkin Park Special Night

Didn't manage to get a ticket for Linkin Park? Or still not enough after the concert? Join us at CRASH on June 12th for our "IN THE END" Linkin Park Special + CORE NIGHT.All night long, we'll be playing Linkin Park's music, along with Nu Metal, Metalcore, and Alternative Rock from bands such as Limp...