Cigarettes up 6% from this morning

A 20-a-day smoking habit will cost an extra €100 a year from today, with the price of cigarettes going up 6%.

The rise, which is the first in two years, was due to come into effect on October 5 but was delayed pending discussions with anti-smoking groups, which had been calling for a 10% increase.

Today's increase will add about 30 centimes to the average packet of 20 cigarettes. Marlboro Red, the most popular brand in France, will now cost €5.60.

The rise is part of Nicolas Sarkozy's newly unveiled plans to tackle cancer. Other measures include a requirement for units of alcohol to be printed on the wine and beer labels.

The last cigarette price increase was in August 2007, again 6%. Cigars and cigarillos went up 4% in July this year.