CNCT calls on government to increase tobacco taxes

While several parliamentarians are calling for the implementation of a tax trajectory on all tobacco products, the National Committee against Smoking is urging the government to accede to their request and significantly increase taxes, as well as explicitly ban nicotine pouches.

As part of the debates on the Finance Bill (PLF) and the Social Security Financing Bill (PLFSS), several parliamentarians consider it necessary to implement an ambitious tax policy on all tobacco products, including Yannick Neuder, general rapporteur of the Social Affairs Committee in the National Assembly, Karl Olive, Michel Lauzzana, Philippe Juvin, Nicolas Thierry and Mickaël Bouloux.

The effectiveness of tax increases in reducing tobacco consumption

As the CNCT points out in its press release, when they are repeated and significant, tax increases are the most effective tool for reducing tobacco consumption, particularly among young people and disadvantaged populations, who are most sensitive to the price argument. Despite the proven effectiveness of tax increases under the first Cancer Plan and the €10 packet policy (2017-2020), no tax trajectory has been put in place over the last four years, which have been characterized by a deterioration in the health situation.

A set of benefits expected beyond the health field

According to the anti-smoking NGO, there is currently no justification for abandoning the tax tool. First, according to figures from the French Observatory for Drugs and Addictive Behaviors, smoking contributes to increasing the public deficit by two billion euros per year, which could in itself constitute a sufficient argument in a context of budgetary tensions. Furthermore, the CNCT disqualifies the argument that tax increases would penalize the tobacconist network. Indeed, since the latter receive remuneration proportional to the retail sale price, an increase in tobacco prices would result in an increase in their income. In this respect, INSEE figures show that tobacconists' turnover from the sale of tobacco products has increased by 100% since 2015. Finally, data from Santé publique France indicate that the share of parallel markets in national consumption has been stable since at least 2014, invalidating the theory of an increase in illicit trade, regularly put forward by the tobacco sector.

CNCT calls for explicit ban on nicotine pouches

While several amendments have been tabled by parliamentarians to grant the monopoly on the sale of nicotine pouches to the tobacconist network, the CNCT is calling on the government to explicitly ban the marketing of the products. Indeed, since they do not fall into the category of exceptions concerning authorized nicotine products and do not have a marketing authorization, these products are in reality illegal. However, the observatories regularly conducted by the CNCT make it possible to document their mass marketing through the tobacconist network, since 60% of the outlets visited sold nicotine pouches, and 55% advertised them. In May 2024, the CNCT had already called on the public authorities to ban nicotine pouches, and had filed a complaint with the Public Prosecutor for trafficking in poisonous substances classified in list I.

©Generation Without Tobacco

FT