2023-09-03 11:10:45
The price of tobacco will not increase in 2024. Guest of RTL this Sunday, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne does not “plan to increase tobacco taxation next year”. A respite for smokers when prices have already increased in 2023, by around 20 to 70 euro cents more per pack.
In nearly ten years, the price of tobacco has increased by 70% in France. The symbolic bar of 11 euros has now been reached, which makes France one of the countries within the European Union where it is the most expensive after Ireland.
“That does not mean that we are not very vigilant about tobacco consumption,” insists Élisabeth Borne, who announces the forthcoming implementation of a national plan to combat smoking. “Tobacco is 75,000 deaths a year, it’s huge,” she says. “It is a measure of consistency with our tax policy,” added BFM Bruno Le Maire, announcing that alcohol would not benefit from an increase either.
One in ten young people have tasted “puffs”
As part of this plan, the government will tackle “puffs”, these disposable electronic cigarettes that are very popular with young people. Elisabeth Borne wants them banned. According to a study by the Alliance Against Tobacco, in 2022, 13% of young French people had already tasted this puff of nicotine sold in tobacconists and in supermarkets between 8 and 12 euros.
VIDEO. The “Puff”, the candy-flavored disposable e-cigarette goes from TikTok to college classes
These electronic cigarettes “give bad habits to young people” who then turn to smoking, believes Elisabeth Borne.
A third of adults were smokers in 2021
After dropping off between 2014 and 2019, tobacco consumption started to rise again in 2022. In 2021, in France, 32% of 18-75 year olds said they smoked, 25%, every day. According to a survey by Public Health France, the rebound, already observed in 2020 among the least privileged, had been confirmed, rising from 29% to 32% among the least qualified. The proportion of female smokers had increased from 20.7% to 23%.
This recovery in consumption was partly due to the social and psychological impact on the mental health of the French. And this despite inflation. “For the most disadvantaged, tobacco is sometimes the last pleasure they offer themselves, their last crutch, explained to the Parisian the head of the addictions unit of Public Health France. Let’s not forget its extremely addictive power either. »
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