Advantages of the New 25g Regulation – Are There Any?

Last updated on 25.06.2024 | Reading time approx. 02:14 min

Yes, hookah tobacco is becoming more expensive, and we as retailers aren’t happy about it either. The new 25g tobacco packs are expected to cost between €3.50 and €5.00. As of March 2023, final prices have not yet been set for all brands. However, we do know the pricing for Holster Tobacco, Nameless, Blackburn, and Darkside. While the first two brands will be priced at €4.00, the well-known dark blend brands Darkside Tobacco and Blackburn Tobacco will be priced at €4.99. However, these brands were already slightly more expensive than standard Virginia tobacco brands even before the price increase.

Why are we, as retailers, unhappy with the price increase? Contrary to what some customers might think, we do not make more profit due to the price hike. On the contrary, retailers also suffer under this new regulation, as profit margins continue to shrink, even though they were already low for tobacco.

The New 25g Regulation Has One Major Advantage

Despite all the downsides we already discussed in our first article on the 25g regulation (such as higher prices and increased environmental waste due to more packaging), there is one benefit that we don’t want to keep from you.

You’ve probably experienced this: You buy a new hookah tobacco flavor that sounds interesting or was recommended by your shop. Once you get home, you pack a hookah bowl with it, only to realize that you don’t like the flavor at all. What usually happens next? You either never touch the tobacco again or only use it when you have no other options left. The container just sits there until you eventually throw it away or give it away. Essentially, you’ve just wasted nearly €20.

The issue is that the hookah tobacco market constantly introduces new brands and flavors, which many customers are eager to try—often falling into this exact trap.

The advantage of the 25g packaging is that you can test a new hookah tobacco with a smaller pack that costs only €3.50 to €5.00. This way, you avoid the frustrating experience of wasting €20 if the tobacco doesn’t suit your taste. And if you do like the flavor, you can stock up by simply purchasing multiple packs of it!

Overall, while the 25g regulation will lead to higher costs for hookah enthusiasts, we believe that this advantage makes the effective additional cost not as high as it might seem—at least for those who regularly try new flavors. However, if you've been smoking the same flavors for years, this new regulation unfortunately offers no benefits at all.