Spaniards outstrip expats in smoking spend

New research by Barcelona-based business school EAE has shed light on tobacco smoking and booze consumption in Spain.

 

Spaniards forked out an average of €203.68 ($267) per person on tobacco and €675 on alcohol in 2012.

 

This increased tobacco consumption — equivalent to 6.46 cigarettes per day — broke a previously downward trend to rise 1.22% compared with 2011, according to La Opinion de Murcia newspaper.

 

This figure puts Spain among the world's top five most heavy-smoking nations alongside Greece, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Japan.

 

The rise in spending in alcohol was moderate, with only a 0.48 percent change recorded.

 

Unlike the world-class Spanish smoking habit, the national alcohol consumption of 108 litres per person was ranked as just average compared with other countries.

 

But in terms of spending, Spanish nationals beat foreign residents living in the country for both booze and alcohol.

 

The report revealed that the average Spaniard spends €68.53 on alcohol per year while foreigners slightly less at €63.54.

 

When it comes to smoking, the difference is even greater: the Spanish spend €170.60 per year while foreign residents in the country cough up just €138.98.