| The German Cancer Research Centre has produced a new publication, in collaboration with the Institute for Health Economics and Clinical Epidemiology of the University of Cologne, entitled Effect of the Tobacco Tax Rises from 2002 to 2004. In a press release on the occasion of the third stage of tax hikes on 1 September 2005, the German Cancer Research Centre in Heidelberg has said that for the first time in German history tobacco consumption has dropped by 12% as the result of the tax increases. The increased taxes have been effective to curb consumption particularly in the case of children and young persons: the number of 12 to 17 year-olds smoking has declined from 28% in 2001 to 20% in 2005. It is estimated that in the long term the tax hike will save the health system and the economy € 2.2 billion every year.
Source : German press release (PDF Format), 29 August 2005 - DKFZ - Fact sheet
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