Sales in loose tobacco in Iceland have increased by 34 percent during the first nine months of this year compared to the same period last year, according to data from the State Alcohol and Tobacco Company of Iceland (ÁTVR).

Photo by Eygló Svala Arnarsdóttir.

At the same time, sales in cigarettes, the price of which has risen to over ISK 1,000 (USD 8, EUR 6.30), have decreased.

Arnþór Indriðason, staff member at tobacco store Björk, says a lot of his customers have started to roll their own cigarettes over the last year since the price of a pack of cigarettes increased.

While the consumption of loose tobacco instead of cigarettes as a means to save money is common abroad, the trend is relatively new in Iceland. According to Morgunblaðið, rolling your own cigarettes saves you 50 percent of the cost of cigarettes.

ZR