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.