-
‘Child-friendly’ stickers for cafés to launch in France
Red stickers will promote spaces that welcome children in face of growing – and controversial – ‘no-kid’ movement
-
Big drop in telephone fees but rises for food and services: France’s June 2025 inflation stats
Year-on-year inflation picks up to reach 1% in France
-
Macron pledges billions in extra defence funding for French army
By 2027 the sum given to the military will have doubled from 2017, but the president did not lay out where extra funds will come from
Carrot protest on cigarette rules
Tobacconists dump four tonnes of carrots by the Ministry of the Economy as price rises and blank package rules mulled
TOBACCONISTS have dumped four tonnes of carrots outside the Ministry of the Economy in protest at plans to raise prices beyond €10 and introduce blank packaging.
The carrot has become a symbol of their cause because of its resemblance to the long, red ‘Tabac’ signs that adorn French high streets.
Across the country some 26,000 tobacconists carried out events in 80 towns. In some departments they covered up speed cameras.
Arrageois : les #buralistes en colère s’en sont pris en vitesse aux radars fixes http://t.co/27MvvQDoTS pic.twitter.com/79rcfUdJQs— La Voix du Nord web (@lavoixdunord) September 8, 2015
The Confédération des buralistes believes that pushing up the costs of a packet of cigarettes past €10 will result in people crossing the border to stock up, or buying online.
It says measures that will reduce the number of Tabacs will not reduce smoking.
One of their key demands is for the government to back down over plans to introduce generic packaging for all cigarettes.
The Senate has already thrown out an amendment to a new bill which would have forced cigarette manufacturers to produce generic packets.
However Health Minister Marisol Touraine has said the amendment will be reintroduced and has urged MPs in the National Assembly to back it.
#Buralistes des gens meurent de faim et vs vs deversez des tonnes de nourriture. #Desolant http://t.co/MIWMxkbjFy pic.twitter.com/74xVTNTTdn— Z'elle GazouiLLe ✏ (@Mart4400) September 8, 2015