Cigarette smoking is becoming a worrying habit among young Italians, with an alarming figure: 22% of under-17s use it. This situation has pushed oncologists and institutions to look for concrete solutions to dissuade young people from smoking, including a significant increase in the price of cigarette packs.
To address this issue, the #SOStenereSSN campaign was launched, promoted by the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (Aiom) and the Aiom Foundation in collaboration with Panorama della Sanità. The key proposal consists of increasing the price of each pack of cigarettes by 5 euros, with the aim of raising funds to be allocated immediately to the National Health Service.
Institutions are urged to consider this measure, which could prove crucial in reducing the number of young smokers. Oncologists point out that over 11% of children under 18 consume more than half a pack a day. During a conference in preparation for the 26th national congress of the Scientific Society, Francesco Perrone and Saverio Cinieri exposed worrying data: in 2023, approximately 1.2 million adolescents admitted to having tried smoking at least once. An increase in the price of cigarettes could make the vice less accessible and therefore less attractive for young people.
Smoking is responsible for at least 27 related diseases, including oncological, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Giulia Veronesi, member of the Committee for the fight against smoking of the Umberto Veronesi Foundation, highlighted that cigarettes are the main cause of lung cancer, causing over 35,000 deaths per year in Italy. Furthermore, the social and health costs related to these pathologies exceed 2.5 billion euros annually. Despite this, the average price of a package in Italy is around 5-6 euros, significantly lower than in other European countries where it reaches even 12-15 euros.
In the context of the fight against smoking, Aiom also announced its initiative “Aiom Meets Africa”. In 2025, a delegation will go to Tanzania to support local oncology and promote scientific research. This collaboration represents a further step towards raising global awareness on health and prevention issues. Raising the price of cigarettes could be an effective strategy not only to reduce the number of smokers among young people, but also to contribute to a struggling health system. With the support of the Italian population — as many as 62% are in favor of a price increase — it is hoped to bring about significant changes in young people’s behavior regarding smoking.
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