How can we reduce smoking again when the prevalence – 12 million daily smokers in the adult population – has stagnated for several years? The Minister of Health and Prevention, Aurélien Rousseau, presented on Tuesday November 28 the new national tobacco control program for the period 2023-2027. “France pays a high price every year for smoking, which remains the most common preventable cause of death, with 75,000 deaths per year or 200 deaths per day.”he emphasizes.

First pillar of this expected plan, while new products are of concern, such as disposable electronic cigarettes for young people: preventing initiation of smoking, especially among the youngest, among whom a significant decline in smoking was observed between 2017 and 2022. “Today we have to take a new step”defended the minister and recalled the government’s goal of a tobacco-free generation in 2032.

To this end, the price for a pack of cigarettes – currently around 11 euros – is to be increased to 13 euros by 2027, as planned by the government. However, nothing changes for 2024. There ” first stage “ will be played in 2025 at a price of 12 euros, Mr. Rousseau announced. In his wake we defend a “not significant”Even if this increase is likely to be close to the expected value solely due to the mechanism for indexing tobacco tax to inflation, modified by Parliament in 2022, we are already reacting in the ranks of anti-tobacco associations. On this basis, prices should range from 1^um January 2024 from 40 to 50 centimes, according to estimates from the Tobacco Products Association, reported The echoes.

In September, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne’s announcement that tobacco taxes would not be increased in 2024 was widely criticized by those involved in the fight against smoking. “To be effective, tax increases must be large, repeated and continuous over time.”responded the National Committee Against Smoking.

Will this increase enable one over the next four years? “price effect” Is the decline in consumption significant? “It won’t change anything. fears Loïc Josseran, president of the Alliance Against Tobacco, who advocates for a package worth at least 16 euros. This will not make an impression and we can even wonder if the penetration will not increase again, as it did between 2005 and 2010, when the price of the package stagnated. » The price actually makes the price “Main Lever”said the professor of public health, who also points this out “The need to finally enforce the ban on sales to minors at tobacco retailers”. “In interministerial arbitration proceedings it is clear that the voice of the tobacco lobby is heard more than that of public health.” he complains.

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