Even though the prevalence of smokers in Italy has decreased in the last thirty years (constant in the last decade), about 92.000 people die each year from tobacco-related disease, and causes a burden of disease of approximately 1,650,000 daly's each year. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) review of more than 100 econometric studies confirmed that tobacco taxes and consumption are strongly inversely related. In Italy an increase of 20 % of the tobacco prices (from 5 euro to 6 euro per pack) this would result in a prevalence of smoking reduction of 6.8% and a reduction of related diseases of 6%. Implementing a similar price-policy in Italy, could mean avoiding about 9,500 deaths and about 98.000 DALY's each year (in range period of 1-15 years). Using the amount of funding for the Italian National Health System in 2016, corresponding to about 111 billion euro, it is roughly estimated that the increase of one euro in the tobacco prices would save in terms of health costs about 600 million euro each year in Italy.

Funding Statement: Research not funded