Montenegro is adapting its tobacco excise policy to EU countries, so a rise in cigarette prices is inevitable, believes economic analyst Predrag Zečević.
"The time of cheap cigarettes in Montenegro is over, it is clear to everyone that smoking is dangerous to life, that these are unhealthy products. The EU has a green policy, that all unhealthy products are expensive, and the time will come when they will not be able to be bought for less than 7, 8 euros. That is still low compared to Britain and Australia, where a pack of cigarettes costs around 20 euros," said Zečević.
Although research shows that more than 35 percent of the population uses tobacco products, the citizens we asked are mostly satisfied that the price increase will occur.
Zečević believes that the jump in cigarette prices will not affect the illegal sale of tobacco products.
"Montenegro has completely stopped cigarette smuggling in the last six to nine months, you know that the main smugglers have been prosecuted, British customs agents and they are counting the crates in the Port of Bar, because they are the ones who suffer the most. We cannot expect the emergence of a gray market, because Montenegro is excellent at stopping these channels."
The excise policy in the EU is very restrictive and punishes manufacturers of products that are harmful to health, Zečević says. He expects that, in addition to cigarettes, the prices of sweets, carbonated drinks and alcoholic beverages will increase in the coming period.
