Six out of ten tobacconists violate the ban on the sale of tobacco to minors, and even "nearly eight out of ten" in towns with more than 15,000 inhabitants, "thus facilitating their entry into smoking", said Thursday an anti-tobacco association.

The National Committee against Smoking (CNCT) conducted, from November 2 to 21, 2021, a "mystery shoppers" study with "17-year-old minors, accompanied by a withdrawn adult", with 403 tobacconists, according to a statement.

Decreasing numbers

It shows that “64% of tobacconists continued to sell tobacco to minors aged 17, compared to 65.1% during the previous survey conducted in 2019”.

In cities with more than 15,000 inhabitants, this rate rises to "77%" despite a ban dating from 2009, and 2003 for children under 16 years old.

Also, only 42% of retailers "respected all of their obligations", compared to 49% during the previous survey, by putting up "a visible poster" informing the customer that the merchant must refuse the sale "if the customer does not to prove his majority", underlines the association.

More penalties demanded

On the strength of this observation, the CNCT calls for "a policy of generalized regular checks" by municipal police officers, of which this is one of the missions "since 2016".

He also wants “heavier legal sentences” to be taken as well as “administrative and disciplinary sanctions on the part of the supervisory authorities, namely Customs”.

The association suggests that "temporary or permanent administrative closures" take place, as is the case "for tobacconists' failure to comply with the obligations linked to the health pass", and calls for "suspension of all public aid in the event of a finding bailiff" of this illegal sale.

75,000 deaths each year

“Nothing can any longer justify that a massively subsidized profession persists in these illegal practices” affirms Yves Martinet, president of the CNCT, quoted in the press release, recalling that each year smoking kills nearly 75,000 people, “or approximately 13% of deaths " in France.

Requested by AFP, the Confederation of tobacconists replied that it had "amplified its action plan in order to equip itself with relevant messages and communication tools" aimed at "raising the awareness of tobacconists", who "must respect the regulations relating to their profession”, “their staff but also the parents, towards the protection of minors”.

The network of tobacconists, which has a monopoly on the sale of tobacco products in France, has some 23,500 points of sale.

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