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Advantages of the New 25g Regulation – Are There Any?
Last updated on 26.06.2026 | Reading time approx. 02:14 min
WARNING: This article is no longer up to date, as the German Federal Ministry of Finance has passed a law change allowing the sale of hookah tobacco in packages larger than 25g again, effective 01.07.2024. All details on this legal change can be found in our article on The Comeback of 200g Hookah Tobacco.
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!
If you want to try out some new flavors, check out our hookah tobacco sample packs, which include multiple 25g packs to help you find your favorites!
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.
FAQ: Advantages of the 25g Regulation
Were there actually any advantages to the 25g regulation for hookah tobacco?
Yes, despite many disadvantages, the 25g regulation had one clear advantage: You could test new tobacco flavors more affordably without having to buy a large tin right away.
What was the biggest advantage of the 25g packaging?
The biggest advantage was that You could try new flavors and brands much more cheaply. If You did not enjoy a tobacco flavor, the financial loss was much smaller compared to buying a large tin.
Why were 25g packs practical for testing new flavours?
Because You could first buy a new flavor in a small quantity. This meant You did not have to spend around 20 euros on a larger package before even knowing whether You would like the tobacco.
How expensive were 25g hookah tobacco packs approximately?
Depending on the brand, prices were usually between around €3.50 and €5.00. This made 25g packs significantly more affordable for testing compared to traditional larger packaging units.
Who was the 25g regulation especially interesting for when buying tobacco?
It was especially interesting for anyone who enjoyed trying new or unusual flavours, brands and varieties. Particularly for people with constantly changing taste preferences, the small pack size helped keep bad purchases cheaper.
Did the 25g regulation help reduce bad purchases of hookah tobacco?
Yes, at least financially. If You did not enjoy a new tobacco flavor, You had only bought a small pack instead of a large tin that would ultimately remain unused.
Could the higher tobacco prices be partially offset by 25g packs?
Partially yes, but only for certain buyers. If You regularly tried new flavors, the smaller packs could help avoid unnecessary spending on large bad purchases. As a result, the effective additional costs carried less weight in some cases.
Were there any advantages of the 25g regulation for regular smokers who always bought the same flavors?
No, according to the text, the 25g regulation offered virtually no advantages for smokers who always bought the same flavors anyway. In this case, the higher costs clearly outweighed any benefits.
Why was the 25g regulation still problematic from a retailer’s perspective?
According to the text, retailers also did not benefit from the higher prices. On the contrary: the profit margin on tobacco remained low or even continued to shrink, although many customers assumed retailers would earn more from it.
Is the article about the advantages of the 25g regulation still up to date today?
No, according to the notice, the article is no longer up to date. Since July 1, 2024, hookah tobacco may once again be sold in pack sizes larger than 25g.