Much of this price increase comes from government policy. In France, roughly 75–80% of the retail price of cigarettes consists of taxes approved by the state. Although tobacco companies propose base prices, the final cost is heavily shaped by taxation decisions made through customs authorities. Even rolling tobacco—once considered a cheaper alternative—has followed the same trend, with a 30-gram pouch approaching €18.
The government defends these measures as part of a public health strategy. France links tobacco taxes to inflation, meaning prices rise automatically over time. Officials argue that higher prices help reduce smoking rates and address the country’s estimated 75,000 smoking-related deaths each year.
At the same time, stricter regulations are expanding where people are allowed to smoke. Bans now extend to more public spaces such as parks, beaches, and areas near schools, with fines for violations. Yet the growing gap between French prices and those in nearby countries highlights an ongoing tension between public health goals and the realities of addiction, cross-border trade, and illegal markets.
