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.