the essential
“In Aveyron, a tobacco shop has closed every month this year. We are the champions of Midi-Pyrénées when it comes to tobacco shop closures,” warns David Romero, secretary of the departmental federation of tobacconists of Aveyron.
The federation sounded the alarm yesterday during its general meeting at the Rodez bowling alley. There were 177 tobacconists last year. There will be only 164 left in 2024. “We are losing a lot of tobacconists because of parallel sales, the black market and cross-border purchases”relates the secretary. A figure which amounts to between 40 and 45%. The price of tobacco has continued to increase since 2003.
And the end of the limitation to one carton of cigarettes from the EU does not help the affairs of Aveyron tobacconists. “It had a big effect. We are calling for harmonization of tobacco prices on European territory and border controls, that there is a difference of one or two euros. That it is three times less expensive in “Foreigner is too much. We must fight on equal terms.”is indignant the president of the federation, Jean-Michel Dexidour. “Contraband factories are emerging, selling counterfeit products that are far more harmful than cigarettes themselves.” The Minister of Health responded to the concerns of the departmental president. “I have noted your concerns”she writes.
