Smoking break? Why the decline in cigarette sales in the Balearic Islands doesn't tell the whole story

Smoking break? Why the decline in cigarette sales in the Balearic Islands doesn't tell the whole story

Key question

Does fewer sold cigarettes really reduce tobacco consumption in Mallorca – or is the problem merely shifting into another form?

From January to November 2025, around 64.7 million packs of cigarettes were sold in the Balearic Islands. That's almost four percent less than the previous year. For comparison: across Spain the decline was more moderate at 2.2 percent. These figures initially sound like a success — at least for traditional tobacco products.

Critical analysis

At the same time, the Spanish Cancer Society warns: Many young people are switching from cigarettes to e-cigarettes (vapes) or heated tobacco products. This is not a small detail. A falling sale of conventional cigarettes does not automatically mean less nicotine is consumed. Instead, demand shifts to products that are taxed differently, are less frequently controlled, and whose long-term effects are not yet fully researched. Legislative discussions about terraces, playgrounds and e-cigarettes are summarized in Smoking Ban in Mallorca: What the New Law Means for Terraces, Playgrounds and E‑Cigarettes.

On the streets of Palma, especially on the Passeig del Born on a windy afternoon, you can see the change: fewer people with a burning filter cigarette, but more with slim, glowing sticks between their fingers. In small bars on the Plaça Gomila, waitstaff report that guests increasingly ask for power outlets for charging cables instead of ashtrays. These are not scientific proofs, but everyday signals.

What's missing from the public debate

Public debate often revolves around sales figures for classic cigarettes – that's measurable and eye-catching. Regional policy debates, such as Balearic Islands Reject Central Smoking Ban on Beaches and Terraces, also shape responses. More important would be the consolidation of all consumption data: classic cigarettes, disposable vapes, refillable systems and heated tobacco products. Reliable figures on age groups and the amounts of nicotine consumed in the population are also lacking. Without this perspective, the impression that "fewer people are smoking" remains incomplete.

Concrete proposals

1) Better data collection: Health authorities in the Balearic Islands should combine consumption of all nicotine-containing products in a single statistic. Only then can the actual trend be recognized.
2) Review taxation: Products that replace classic cigarettes should not automatically be tax-advantaged. A binding assessment and adjustment of tax rates prevents displacement effects.
3) Focus on youth: Enforce age checks at sales points and on beaches/clubs more systematically. Adapt prevention programs in schools — not just "smoking is bad", but provide information on the risks of vapes and heated tobacco products. The local backlash and next steps are covered in Balearic Islands reject smoking ban on beaches and terraces — what now?.
4) Promote research: Long-term studies on heated tobacco and new vaporizer systems need funding to clarify health risks more quickly.
5) Visible smoking cessation services: More low-threshold offerings on Mallorca — from counseling centers in municipalities to subsidized nicotine replacement therapies — would actually support people, regardless of which product they currently use.

Practical measures

At local markets like the Mercat de l'Olivar, information booths could provide guidance on alternatives to nicotine dependence. Pharmacies in areas like Sa Gerreria or Santa Catalina could increase visibility of smoking cessation services and offer comprehensive counseling. Such measures are not revolutionary steps, but they reach people where they shop and live.

Conclusion

The figure of 64.7 million packs sold and the nearly four percent decline are encouraging signals — but they are only part of the story. Anyone who really wants to understand the development must broaden the view: to vapes, heated tobacco, tax systems and young people. Otherwise there is a risk that a positive statistical result will close eyes to new health risks. In Mallorca, where promenades, plazas and beaches form close neighborhoods, clear, connected measures are needed rather than small successes without foresight.