What's next for hookah in the EU and Czechia: taxes and flavours, October 2026

There is a lot of news from Brussels about shisha tobacco right now: new taxes, a possible flavour ban, advertising limits. Here is a calm, fact-based overview — what already applies in Czechia, what is still being discussed in the EU, and when it could affect customers and venues.

In short

• Nothing major changes in Czechia today. Shisha tobacco has a reduced excise rate, flavours are allowed and sales are 18+ only.
• Excise duty rises as planned: CZK 654/kg in 2026 and CZK 687/kg from 1 January 2027.
• The EU is discussing a new tax directive. The European Commission proposes raising the minimum tax on shisha tobacco to €107/kg or 50% of the retail price. Nothing has been decided, and it is unlikely to apply before 2028.
• The EU is reviewing the rules on tobacco products and advertising. Flavour restrictions, plain packaging and online advertising are on the table. The Commission's proposal is expected by the end of 2026, followed by a long legislative process.

What already applies in Czechia

Excise duty on shisha tobacco

In Czechia, shisha tobacco has a reduced excise rate — several times lower than regular smoking tobacco. Rates rise gradually on a schedule approved in advance:

For customers this means a small yearly price increase, not a jump. A 100 g pack of shisha tobacco carries about CZK 65 of excise duty in 2026 and about CZK 69 in 2027.

Flavours are allowed, with their own rules

The EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) bans characterising flavours in cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco. Shisha tobacco is not covered by that ban — which is why fruit and dessert flavours are on the market.

The same directive, however, bans any text on tobacco packaging that refers to taste or smell. Hence the unusual names on the tins: producers write Watrmln instead of "Watermelon" or Shok Anans instead of "Shock Ananas". In our catalogue, products carry exactly the names under which they are registered and printed on the pack, and we describe the familiar flavour in the text.

Sales to adults only

Tobacco products, including shisha tobacco, may only be sold to people over 18 in Czechia — in shops and online. Online shops are required to verify the customer's age.

EU: a new tax directive

In July 2025, the European Commission proposed a revision of the tobacco taxation directive. For the first time, shisha tobacco would get its own category with its own minimum tax.

For comparison, the Czech rate for 2026 is CZK 654/kg, roughly €26/kg. Under the proposal, the per-kilogram minimum would be adjusted to each country's price level, so the exact figure for Czechia is not yet known. The direction is clear, though: if the proposal passes in this form, the tax on shisha tobacco would rise several times over.

Where things stand

• Nothing has been decided. EU tax directives require unanimous approval by all member states in the Council. Talks stalled in summer 2026, with several countries objecting to specific points — mainly e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches.
• The European Parliament did not adopt a position — in June 2026, the report by Czech MEP Tomáš Kubín fell short of the votes needed. Parliament only has an advisory role here, but it is another sign the reform will not be quick.
• According to Czech media, the new rates are unlikely to apply before 2028. The final figures may still change during negotiations.

EU: flavours, packaging and advertising

In parallel, the European Commission is preparing a review of two other laws — the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) and the Tobacco Advertising Directive (TAD). Topics under discussion include:

• wider flavour restrictions;
• plain, standardised packaging;
• limits on promoting tobacco online and on social media;
• rules for e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches.

A public consultation ran from 22 May to 14 August 2026 and received 41,693 responses, 95% of them from citizens. Most citizens opposed tighter rules, while health organisations and public authorities mostly supported them. On 6 October 2026, ministers from eight countries (the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, France, Hungary, Latvia, Slovenia and Spain) called for a broad flavour ban across all products. Czechia is not among them.

The Commission's proposal itself is expected by the end of 2026. That is only the start: it then goes to the Council and the European Parliament, after which countries transpose the rules into national law. In practice, it takes years from proposal to changes on the shelf. Whether flavour restrictions would affect shisha tobacco will only be clear from the text of the proposal.

What it means for customers

• Nothing changes right now: flavours stay on the shelves and prices follow the planned excise increases.
• Buy from official sellers. Legal tobacco is sold with a Czech excise stamp. Tobacco without a stamp is not only a counterfeit risk but also illegal.
• There is no point stockpiling. Shisha tobacco is best fresh, and any changes are years away.

What it means for venues and shops

• Factor the 2027 excise rate into your prices — CZK 687/kg from 1 January.
• Watch for the TPD/TAD proposal at the end of 2026. Limits on online advertising could affect how shisha bars promote themselves on social media.
• Work with official distributors. It guarantees legal goods with excise stamps and paperwork — which matters during inspections.

We are the official distributor of BlackBurn, Starline and DEUS tobacco and the exclusive distributor of MustH in the Czech Republic, and we follow rule changes closely. We will update this article when new decisions are made.

FAQ

Will the EU ban flavoured shisha tobacco?

Nothing has been decided. The European Commission is still preparing its proposal to revise the Tobacco Products Directive, expected by the end of 2026. Whether it covers shisha tobacco will only be clear from the text. After that come years of negotiation and transposition into national law.

How much more expensive will shisha tobacco get?

In Czechia, excise duty rises by about 5% in 2027 — from CZK 654 to 687/kg. If the EU adopts the new tax directive as proposed, the increase would be much larger, but not before 2028 and with a four-year transition period.

Why do the tins have such strange flavour names?

EU rules ban mentioning taste or smell on tobacco packaging. Producers therefore use altered names — for example Watrmln instead of "Watermelon".

Sources

• European Commission — Tobacco Taxation: Frequently asked questions
• European Parliament — Revision of the Tobacco Taxation Directive
• PKF Apogeo — Czech excise duty changes from 2026
• Aktuálně.cz — EU tobacco tax reform delayed (in Czech)
• Vaping Post — TPD public consultation results
• Vaping Post — letter from eight countries (6 October 2026)