France - BAT cuts cigarettes prices, also Drum - fine-cut handrolling tobacco (shag)..



July 8, 2010 - Taxes on cigarettes could be increased further to retaliate against a price cut by manufacturers that comes into effect today.

British American Tobacco (BAT) has announced it is dropping the price of a pack of 20 cigarettes in France from €5.50 (6.98 USD) to €5.30 (6.73 USD) for two of its brands, Rothmans and Lucky Strike. Rolling tobacco manufacturer Drum is also cutting prices today, down from €7 (8.88 USD) to €6.65 (8.44 USD).

Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot said she was shocked by the move, which the government has no power to stop. She said she was determined that efforts to prevent people smoking would not be beaten by a price cut. She told RTL: "The only means I have is to increase taxes on tobacco." Anti-smoking group the Office Français de Prévention du Tabagisme said the price cut was a "health scandal" and would "attract new smokers, especially young people and women".

According to the Observatoire Français des Drogues et des Toxicomanies, 29% of adults in France smoke regularly and another 5% occasionally. In France, there are about 66,000 smoking-related deaths each year and up to 5,800 deaths from passive smoking, inhaling the smoke of smokers.

Reference: Cigarette price cut 'a scandal', ConnexionFrance.com, 7/5/2010.

France - a few related news briefs:
France - decree signed, graphic warnings on cigarette packs next year..;
France - number of cigarettes sold starts to rise again..;
France - anti-smoking shock ad aimed at teens..;
France - some smokers are flaunting the ban on smoking..;
Cigarette sales in France dropped to a record low in 2008..;
French researchers announced a striking 15% decrease in admissions of patients with myocardial infarction to emergency wards since the public ban on smoking came into effect..;
France - cheaper cigarettes close by in Belgium...
(French)

0 comments: