Protest at Cigarette Tax Rises
Up to 20,000 tobacconists marched through Paris yesterday in protest against successive heavy increases in cigarette taxes that they claim risk driving them out of business. In line with a campaign pledge last year by the president, Jacques Chirac, to make the fight against cancer one of...
Up to 20,000 tobacconists marched through Paris yesterday in protest against successive heavy increases in cigarette taxes that they claim risk driving them out of business.
In line with a campaign pledge last year by the president, Jacques Chirac, to make the fight against cancer one of his main priorities, the centre-right government increased cigarette prices by 20% in October and is planning a 20% rise in January.
On top of a 15% rise last January the increases will make France, which has the highest level of cancer-related deaths in Europe, the most expensive country for smokers in the EU after Britain. But the prime minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, said he was determined to push cigarette prices in France above €5 a pack.
"Raffarin, resign" and "The government is bad for tobacconists' health" were among the slogans yesterday. "Our sales fell by 20% last month and the next hike will put many of us in danger," said René Le Pape, president of the tobacconists' federation.
In line with a campaign pledge last year by the president, Jacques Chirac, to make the fight against cancer one of his main priorities, the centre-right government increased cigarette prices by 20% in October and is planning a 20% rise in January.
On top of a 15% rise last January the increases will make France, which has the highest level of cancer-related deaths in Europe, the most expensive country for smokers in the EU after Britain. But the prime minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, said he was determined to push cigarette prices in France above €5 a pack.
"Raffarin, resign" and "The government is bad for tobacconists' health" were among the slogans yesterday. "Our sales fell by 20% last month and the next hike will put many of us in danger," said René Le Pape, president of the tobacconists' federation.
Use the feedback form below to submit your comments.
Use the form below to email this article to your friends.
- Bars Use Smoke and Mirrors to Flout Ban
- 40% of German Soldiers Too Fat
- Nigeria Takes on Big Tobacco Over Campaigns That Target the Young
- Tunnels for Hire As Gaza's Smugglers Risk Their Lives
- Poland Fires Warning Shots at German Pleasure Boat
- French Cafe Games Get a Tax Break
- How Malawi's Livelihood Went Up in Smoke
- Family's Victory Against Bat Could Open Legal Floodgates
- 'People Say We Should Go About Our Normal Lives. How Can We?'
- EU to Stop Subsidising Tobacco Crops Amid Concern at Health Costs
- French Tobacconists Shut Up Shop in Protest at Cigarette Tax Rise
- Cigarette giant pays $2m to Texas girl disfigured in car blaze
- Best Case Scenario for Spanish Smokers
- Burma Activists Claim Victory Over Travel Links
- Montenegrin PM accused of link with tobacco racket
- Ban All Tobacco - Us Health Chief
- Chirac fires up crusade to stub out smoking
- Waiting for war
- European Court Rules Against Tobacco Manufacturers
- Versatile and green-friendly hemp
- U.S. Senate Votes to Give FDA Much More Power over Tobacco
- Congress Votes to Give FDA Control over Tobacco