The price of the pack of Marlboro cigarettes, the first brand sold in France, will reach ten euros on March 1, under the effect of the policy of tax increases aimed at reducing tobacco consumption in France.
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9.60 euros per Winston package
Published in the Official Journal on Tuesday, a ministerial decree dated January 31 sets the new prices, up due to the application of the first tax hike of 50 cents, scheduled for this year - the second being scheduled for November 1 by the government . The Philip Morris group, whose market share is 40% in France, including 26% with its flagship brand Marlboro, will now sell the package of Marlboro Red at 10 euros, against 9.30 euros currently. Another highly sold reference increases by 60 cents, including the margin of Philip Morris: the Winston pass to 9.60 euros, against 9 euros.
The Marlboro package is not the most expensive sold in France, however: the Gauloises brunettes from Seita (French subsidiary of the British Imperial Brands), which already cost 10 euros since November 1, rose to 10.60 euros, and the Brown Gypsies, at 11 euros, against 10.50 euros previously. But Seita's best sellers are the blonde Gauls (9.50 euros against 9 euros) and News and Co (9.40 euros against 8.90 euros), which are cheaper. On the side of Japan Tobacco International, the price of Camel without filter goes to 9.80 euros against 9.10 euros, again an increase of 70 cents.
Within the flagship products of British American Tobacco, the price of the Lucky Strike Bleu Classic goes up to 9.40 euros against 8.90 euros previously, and that of the Winfield Rouge goes to 9.60 euros against 9.10 euros - an increase of 50 cents, strict application of tax increases.
75,000 deaths in France each year
Upon his arrival in May 2017, the Macron government had ended four years of price stability, significantly raising taxes to bring the price of the package to around 8 euros on March 1, 2018 and since then making two annual increases of 50 cents, programmed one in March, the other in November, with the stated aim of reducing tobacco consumption. These price increases caused sales to drop 9.32% in 2018 and 7.2% last year.
In France, it is the tobacco manufacturers who set the sale prices, but the State can encourage increases by varying the taxes, which represent more than 80% of the price. Tobacco, responsible for cancers and cardiovascular diseases, kills some 75,000 French people each year.