Latvia

Tobacco Control Policies

Latvia became a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on May 11, 2005.

Smoke Free Places: The law prohibits smoking in most workplaces and public places. However, designated smoking areas are permitted in several places, including prisons, hotel guest rooms, casinos, games rooms, and departure halls of international airports. The law prohibits smoking in most public transport but allows smoking on long-distance trains and passenger ships in separate smoking cars or cabins.

Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship: The law generally prohibits the advertising of tobacco products, with some exceptions for cross-border communications outside of the European Union. Product display is prohibited except at duty-free shops, ships on international voyages, and specialist shops exclusively selling tobacco. There are some restrictions on tobacco sponsorship and the publicity of such sponsorship.

Tobacco Packaging and Labeling: On smoked tobacco products, the law requires rotating pictorial health warnings to cover 65 percent of the front and back of the pack. On smokeless tobacco products, the law requires a text-only health warning to cover 30 percent of the two largest surfaces of the pack. Misleading packaging and labeling, which could include terms such as “light” and “low tar” and other signs, is prohibited.

Tobacco Taxation and Prices: The World Health Organization recommends raising tobacco excise taxes so that they account for at least 70 percent of retail prices. Tobacco excise taxes in Latvia are below these recommendations.

SMOKE FREE ENVIRONMENTS COMPLETE SMOKING BAN
Health-care facilities Yes
Private offices Yes
Primary and secondary schools Yes
Public transport No
Universities Yes
Restaurants Yes
Governmental facilities Yes
Bars and Pubs Yes
Can subnational jurisdictions enact more stringent smoking restrictions? Yes
BANS ON TOBACCO ADVERTISING, PROMOTION, AND SPONSORSHIP
Domestic TV and radio Yes
Promotional discounts Yes
Domestic magazines and newspapers Yes
Non-tobacco products or services with tobacco brand names Yes
Outdoor advertising Yes
Tobacco products with non-tobacco brand names Yes
Point-of-sale advertising Yes
Paid placement in media Yes
Retail product display No
Financial sponsorship, including corporate social responsibility Yes
Internet advertising Yes
Publicity of sponsorships Yes
Free distribution Yes
HEALTH WARNINGS ON SMOKED TOBACCO PRODUCTS
Text warnings describe health impacts Yes
Number of published warnings at any given time 14
Warnings include a picture or graphic Yes
Warnings required to rotate Required
% of principal display areas covered (front and back) 65%
Warnings are written in the principal language(s) Yes
Front 65%
Ban on misleading packaging and labeling Yes
Back 65%
Health warnings on smokeless tobacco products Yes
TOBACCO TAXATION AND PRICE
PRICE OF MOST SOLD BRAND, PACK OF 20 CIGARETTES TAXES ON MOST SOLD BRAND (% OF RETAIL PRICE)
In country currency 4.00 EUR
Total taxes 81%
In US dollars 4.08 USD
Total excise 64%

Sources:

SF, APS, PL: Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Legal Website. Available at: www.tobaccocontrollaws.org

Tax: WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2023. Available at: www.who.int/teams/health-promotion/tobacco-control/global-tobacco-report-2023 

Last updated: August 27, 2021