The pack of cigarettes will increase by one euro by March 1. But the rise in the price of tobacco is not enough to curb the smoking of the most disadvantaged populations.
And two. For the second year in a row, the price of tobacco will increase. The decree, published Sunday 4 February in the Official Journal, lists all products intended to increase by 1er next march. With an overall increase of 1 euro for the packet of cigarettes and 2 euros for the hand-rolling tobacco pouch, this measure materializes the “drastic increase” in tobacco defended by the Minister of Health Agnès Buzyn.
The price of the pack will therefore range between 7.50 euros for the cheapest cigarettes and 9.10 euros for the most expensive. On closer inspection, some manufacturers have decided to absorb their increase by cutting back on their margins, so as not to exceed the psychological barrier of 8 euros. This is particularly the case of Philipp Morris (Marlboro), who announced recently, and with great communication, his intention to give up classic cigarettes.
The poor smoke more and more
But the increases in tobacco, however dissuasive they may be, are they enough to make an effective prevention policy? Last year, the Public Health France agency warned about the poor results of the current tobacco control policy among the most disadvantaged populations. Between 2010 and 2016, while the prevalence of smoking increased from 23.5% to 20.9% among high-income people (last third), it increased from 35.2% to 37.5% among the most low income (first tiercile).
Evolution of the prevalence of daily smoking according to income per unit of consumption. The lowest incomes are shown in solid blue lines. Source: 2016 Health Barometer, Public Health France.
“These smokers do not find much help, are very dependent, will eventually reduce their consumption but above all find alternatives,” explains Dr Alice Deschenau, psychiatrist at the Paul Guiraud hospital group (Villejuif) and deputy general secretary of the Company. Francophone de tabacologie (SFT). This can be more on cigarettes, switch to roll-your-own tobacco, or even refer to contraband or cross-border purchases. “
Limited reimbursement
Thus, and even if the increase in the price of tobacco tends to put more strain on their budget, the most disadvantaged people seem generally less sensitive to traditional prevention policies. “We take the example of countries where the increase in the price of tobacco has had a big impact, continues Alice Deschenau. But Australia, for example, has also implemented free access to treatment.”
In France, the reimbursement of nicotine substitutes (patches, chewing gum, etc.) is capped at 150 euros per year and per person. “When you are a heavy smoker, you often need four to six months of substitution, explains Alice Deschenau. With 150 euros, it is already good when you cover two months of treatment, especially since the patient must advance the costs. “
The economic factor
Other factors contribute to making people in precarious situations more vulnerable to tobacco, starting with their relationship to health. “This is a classic result of sociology: precariousness shortens the time horizon”, summarized the sociologist of health Patrick Peretti-Watel, in a 2012 intervention.
Less inclined to project themselves into the future, people in precarious situations are less receptive to traditional prevention, especially focused on price increases and information campaigns. And poverty, meanwhile, has continued to increase since the 2008 crisis.
New this year?
“We have the impression that we continue to consider tobacco as a risk factor and not as a health problem in itself, considers Alice Deschenau. We cannot say that it is not at all treated by the government , but for the moment the only detailed points are the increase in the price of tobacco and the fight against smuggling. “
Very committed to the fight against tobacco when she was president of the National Cancer Institute (INCa), Minister Agnès Buzyn announced the implementation a new National Smoking Reduction Program (PRNT) in spring 2018. In the meantime, the ten-euro package has already been announced, by 2020. The wallet before the rest.
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