The government has announced its desire to punish smokers who bypass tobacconists and buy their cigarettes on Internet sites.
This should boost the morale of tobacconists. After the neutral package and the dramatic surge in cigar prices, which have yet to be voted on in Parliament, many feared another stabbing. But, on the contrary, the government decided to give them a little ointment.
Fines, confiscations …
Thus, the Secretary of State for the Budget, Christian Eckert, announced that smokers who buy their cigarettes on the Internet will soon be punished. In an interview with Figaro, it evokes “penal sanctions”, such as fines, confiscation of goods or recovery of duties.
In France, the sale of cigarettes online is prohibited. But this time it is a question of directly penalizing the consumer. “European texts provide for sellers to register in each country, which allows us to get to know them better. We will then work with the distributors in order to know their recipients, ”explains the Minister. The hunt is on.
1 in 5 cigarettes escapes the network
By declaring war on smokers 2.0, the government is responding, at least partially, to a fear raised by tobacconists: the rise in tobacco prices would explode parallel trade. However, in France, tobacconists have a monopoly on the tobacco trade. Except that at least one in five smoked cigarettes has not been purchased in the official network, and therefore escapes French taxes.
“We hear the questions and concerns among tobacconists. There is no haro on tobacconists, quite the contrary, ”hammered Christian Eckert, who during the interview, recalled that border controls have been strengthened, so that consumers do not bring back more than four cartridges. .
Prices, a real point of disgrace
Not sure however that this gesture, very political, manages to appease the anger of tobacconists. Because the price of tobacco, a real point of disgrace, should continue to increase in the coming months. “I will not engage in a moratorium on the price”, recalled Christian Eckert, who militates in spite of everything for progressive increases – he who was opposed to the sudden increase in the price of cigars and cigarillos. Fight against smoking while securing the support of tobacconists, the exercise is perilous …
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