Price of cigarettes to go up on New Year’s Day due to EU rule

The price of a pack of 20 cigarettes in the Czech Republic will increase by CZK 3 or 4 from January 1. The change is due to an EU directive under which consumer tax on 1,000 cigarettes must reach EUR 90 (CZK 2430); the weak crown means that the Czech Republic would not fulfil this requirement and would face sanctions. Cigars and rolling tobacco will also go up in price from the New Year. Tax on cigarettes in the Czech Republic last went up in December 2014.