Rising tobacco prices, combined with prevention and counter-smuggling and cross-border tobacco smuggling, are expected to reduce the number of 500.000 smokers each year, according to the government.
A REALIZABLE OBJECTIVE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE?
The government has clarified its tobacco control policy, announcing that it is targeting a reduction of 500.000 smokers per year through a set of measures, starting with the gradual increase in the price of a packet of cigarettes to 10 euros by to 2020, already widely publicized.
In addition to the price increase component, already detailed (1), the government intends to step up preventive and quitting aid actions, in particular through the “Moi (s) sans tabac” operation. Initiated in 2016, it is currently taking place for the 2nd year, and encourages smokers to try quitting during the month of November.
A second national tobacco reduction program (PNRT) will be developed and launched in early 2018 as part of the national health strategy, after extensive consultation with civil society, the ministry said. These actions will benefit from the financial support of the anti-tobacco fund, established within the CNAMTS since January 1, 2017, supplied in 2018 by a contribution from tobacco distributors, which could reach around 130 million euros per year.
In addition, the government will act to limit cross-border cigarette purchases and strengthen the fight against smuggling. It intends to promote with neighboring European countries "a better harmonization of the levels of taxation on tobacco products" and a "reduction in the quantity of tobacco passing from one country to another of the European Union, by the strict limitation cross-border transport of tobacco ”.
Finally, a plan to strengthen the fight against contraband tobacco will be deployed ... The government will "use new targeting techniques, new traceability tools (made possible by the Community regulatory framework)".
While the electronic cigarette has already proven itself in the United Kingdom in the fight against smoking, the French government still does not seem to want to put it forward to maximize the chances of success. Not sure that current government choices are enough to reduce the number of 500 000 smokers each year.
Source : Boursier.com/
