The Confederation of tobacconists ensures "working tirelessly" on compliance with the ban on sales to minors in its network.

Accordingly, it requests “exclusivity in the marketing of disposable electronic cigarettes” or puff.

The ban on sales to minors is, according to her, more "flouted" by "online platforms or large retailers".

"While the subject of disposable electronic cigarettes or puff animates the debates around the Social Security Financing Bill (PLFSS) for 2023, the National Confederation of tobacconists is alarmed by the abuses observed in the marketing of these products by some networks,” she said in a statement Monday.

“Dissuasive tax” or prohibition

With its childish, sweet or fruity flavors – “marshmallow”, “ice candy”, “chocolate hazelnut”… –, its brightly colored packaging reminiscent of sweets and its low price ranging from 8 to 12 euros for 500 puffs, the puff exists under twenty brands and worries because it targets teenagers, while the electronic cigarette is prohibited for minors.

The right-wing majority Senate voted in favor of a "deterrent tax" on these "puff" disposable e-cigarettes, but the measure may not pass.

A proposed environmental law calls for their prohibition.

According to the president of the Confederation of tobacconists, Philippe Coy, quoted by the press release, “the regulations concerning disposable electronic cigarettes are flouted (…) by online platforms or large retailers”.

He is pleased “to see that several parliamentarians are proposing to entrust the distribution of this product to a responsible network like that of tobacconists”.

Half of e-cig revenue

Sales of puff - also marketed on the Internet, in vapostores, etc. - already represent, for some tobacconists, half of the activity generated by the electronic cigarette: the latter brings them 140 million euros out of the 3.6 billion annual gross turnover achieved by the country's 23,500 tobacconists.

At the end of 2021, the National Committee against Smoking (CNCT) affirmed, after a "mystery shopper" survey with "17-year-old minors, accompanied by a retired adult", that six out of ten tobacconists violated the ban on the sale of tobacco to minors.

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