No rise in cost of cigarettes

The government will not put up the cost of cigarettes, the budget minister has said.

In an interview this weekend Eric Woerth quashed press reports that a 10% rise would be implemented in January.

His statement came just before the opening of a tobacconists’ conference.

The last price rise came in at the end of August, making France one of the most expensive countries to buy cigarettes in. The result has been growth in sales across the borders.