France bans e-cigarettes. Will Luxembourg support the initiative?
French Health Minister Aurélien Rousseau has announced a ban on disposable e-cigarettes by 2025. The situation is unique, as Belgium, Germany and Ireland are only drafting similar legislation. If the innovation comes into force, France will be obliged to submit a draft to the entire EU.
The reason for introducing such restrictions was the information that young people start smoking only thanks to disposable cigarettes. The bright taste and the pleasant effect of thick cold smoke hide the real nicotine content in the product, as well as the feeling of saturation, which increases the addiction.
France also plans to raise the cost of a pack of regular cigarettes to 13 euros by 2027 (it now averages 11 euros) and extend the smoking ban to beaches, parks, forests and areas adjacent to public places. However, studies show that France's lack of coordination with neighboring countries on tobacco taxation has led to an increase in illicit tobacco trade and cross-border purchases.
The first country that comes to mind when discussing cross-border purchases is Luxembourg. The Grand Duchy has yet to ban e-cigarettes, but petitions to increase excise taxes are a regular occurrence. Luxembourg's population remains one of the most smoke-free in the EU, and tobacco taxes are among the lowest in the alliance. As a result, many cross-border workers (and sometimes smugglers) prefer to buy here.
