French tobacconists angry over tobacco tax hikes
Since the beginning of the week, tobacconists across France have been mobilizing to express their discontent. They are denouncing what they call a "fiscal spiral" that is weighing heavily on their profession. This national action aims to alert the government to the economic difficulties faced by these local merchants.
At the heart of the problem lie the successive increases in tobacco prices, imposed by public health policies. According to representatives of the profession, these constant hikes encourage the parallel market and the illegal sale of cigarettes. Tobacconists fear that these measures will cause their turnover to plummet while remaining ineffective in actually reducing the number of smokers.
Beyond the issue of tobacco, tobacconists highlight their essential role in rural areas and city centers. They point out that they provide numerous public services, such as the sale of tax stamps, the payment of fines, or parcel collection. They are therefore calling for better recognition of their status and a more stable fiscal policy to guarantee the survival of their businesses.
The movement is expected to continue throughout the week with symbolic actions in several departments. Unions hope to quickly obtain a meeting with the relevant authorities to discuss the future of the sector. For the moment, the government has not yet made an official statement regarding these demands.