Why is it that German cigarette packs have 17 cigarettes and American packs 20?

Hello,

I live in Germany, usually cigarettes come in packs of 20 - its just the vendig machines that give 17!

Also it is cheaper:

he third and final stage of the current round of tobacco tax increases was introduced in September 2005, following those in March and December 2004. We passed on this tax increase to consumers which, for the majority of our cigarette portfolio, entailed reducing pack sizes from 19 to 17 cigarettes and lowering prices by 20 euro cents.

http://www.imperial-tobacco.com/files/financial/re...

The number of cigies in German packs have varied over the years from 17-22 because of inflation and tax. Since the vending machines give no change, they just add or subtract a cigi from the pack to make the adjustment! Vending machine prices have always a nice round price like 4 euros so they sell.

Back in the olden days (1970's) they used to have the change in with pack.

Most brands have vending machine packs and regular store (where they can make change) packs with higher counts.

Good smokin to ya!

A Kraut.

Every time when the cigarette prices rices up in Germany they take one cigarette out the package. So long time ago they had a also 20 cigarettes now it's getting lower and lower, soon there is nothing it the package.

orginally we had 20 cigarettes a pack..prices for cigarettes havecontinously risen over the last years...this is kind of a hidden price rise

We have 20 because there are 20 matches in a book of matches.

Canada has 25.. No idea why tho.

i have no idea.....and i didnt even know that