Here, Tuesday July 28 2015 took place on France Inter a radio program with the subject " Can we come to a world without tobacco?". " The phone is ringing Is a program which runs from Monday to Friday from 19 pm to 15 pm and is hosted by Arnaud Bousquet. Here is the summary of yesterday's show :
A world without tobacco ? It is the will of the government, according to Marisol Touraine, which wishes the appearance of "The first generation of non-smokers" within 20 years. With 80000 deaths per year, tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death, and its eradication is the priority of the Minister of Health. One of the flagship measures, the neutral package, has just been removed in committee in the Senate, where it was considered to be in contradiction with trademark law. The government promises that the provision will be reintroduced in an amendment.
Tobacco is a financial windfall. 80% taxed, it brings in 14 billion euros each year to the State, 11 of which are directly donated ... to Social Security! The economic stakes weigh in the decision of the government, for which the increase in the price of tobacco is not on the agenda. Added to this is the weight of tobacco lobbies, but also the fear of elected officials to suffer a sanction vote from smokers.
But the relevance of the neutral package is disputed. For tobacconists, its introduction will hurt their profits, smokers falling back on cheaper packages since their favorite brands will become less identifiable. They also doubt the effects of the measure on the consumption of smokers, the youngest instead using electronic cigarettes and hand-rolled tobacco. And on the other side of the barrier, many anti-smoking associations warn against a cosmetic measure which should be accompanied by a shock policy.
How to fight effectively against tobacco consumption ? Can the electronic cigarette be the solution? What to privilege between health and individual freedom? Smokers, will the neutral package prevent you from consuming?
TO LISTEN TO THE "PHONE RINGING" TRANSMISSION:
