July 21, 2017.
Tobacconists have been angry since the government announced that it wanted to increase the pack of cigarettes to € 10 instead of € 7 today. So they organized a fist operation to make their voices heard.
Tobacconists have covered hundreds of automatic speed cameras
To denounce the increase in the price of tobacco planned by the government, tobacconists have covered hundreds of automatic radars in several departments. ” By this action, it is a real warning shot that we launch, vis-à-vis the government, as well as the parliament », Explained Thierry Lefebvre, president of the departmental trade union chamber of Haut-Rhin.
And to add: “ Accepting a 10 € package is out of the question., while 27.1% of tobacco is still bought at borders, on the Internet or in the street “. What tobacconists dispute is this policy of successive governments which only fight against tobacco by increasing prices when they could launch a major plan to fight against parallel markets.
Tobacconists in danger?
Making this announcement on the eve of the summer holidays is, for the profession, a way of encouraging smokers to stock up abroad. In some tobacconists, in Andorra in particular, there are still € 2 packages. ” It is the tobacconist as the first local store that is threatened “, Warned the president of the Federation of trade union chambers of Occitanie tobacconists, Gérard Vidal.
Small posters ” No to the 10 euro package, looted customers, threatened tobacconist », Were stuck on the radars. A way for the profession to sensitize elected officials but also public opinion. Smoking risks becoming a luxury. On Wednesday July 19, the confederation of tobacconists met with the Minister of Health, Agnès Buzyn, informing her of “rising concernOf the profession. But it is hard to see the government backing down on this public health issue.
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