The price of one packet of Marlboro cigarettes, the most-sold cigarettes in France, has reached the price threshold of EUR 10 (USD 10.84), reported The Connexion.

The new price will come into force on March 1, after the first of two annual tax hikes is applied. Since March 1, 2018, the French government has been bi-annually increasing the tax on cigarettes by EUR 0.50 (USD 0.54), every March and November. According to the report, the new taxes and prices were confirmed by the Journal Officiel, which was published on February 11, after a government decree on January 31. The intention behind these increases is to help reduce smoking rates in France.
However, even after the price hike, Marlboro will not be the most expensive cigarettes on the French market. Brown Gauloises, produced by Seita, the French branch of Imperial Brands, will reach EUR 10.50 (USD 11.38) and Brown Gitanes will reach EUR 11.50 (USD 12.46).
The report stated that the new taxes do seem to be having the desired effect. Cigarette sales fell by 9.2 per cent in 2018 and 7.2 per cent in 2019, which proponents of the campaign have called a success. However, according to The Connexion, the Director of Public Affairs at British American Tobacco, Pascal Marbois, told Franceinfo, “More and more illicit tobacco is being seized at customs.” Many cigarette sellers and pro-smoking groups have argued that the price increases are simply strengthening the black market.