“No to the neutral package!” The appeal of tobacconists is clear. This Tuesday, September 8, they demonstrate across France to oppose the package that will lose the logo of the brand. The new packaging will be white in color and must not present any distinctive sign. It will only display the famous warning “smoking kills”, accompanied by shock photos on both sides: lungs affected by a Cancer, toothless jaws or cysts in the throat.
Examined before the Senate on September 14, this measure should come into force in May 2016. Tobacconists fear that the implementation of these new packages will promote the purchase of cigarettes abroad, especially in Spain or Belgium. These countries have in fact refused the draft neutral package.
Prevent smoking among young people
This provision, which is part of the anti-smoking plan developed by the Minister of Health Marisol Touraine, is motivated by the desire to reduce smoking among the youngest. By making cigarette packages less attractive, the government hopes to reduce the number of new smokers each year, whose age of the first cigarette is around 15 years. At the same time, Tabac Info Service and the National Institute for Prevention and Education for Health (Inpes) are leading a dynamic campaign to facilitatesmoking cessation, especially with a personalized coaching application available on tablet and smartphone.
According to a recent study, two out of three smokers will die of a disease caused by smoking. Every day, 200 people die prematurely from tobacco in France.
