Smoke on the internet: a threat manufacturer sites
Tobacco companies defend themselves against illegal sales of tobacco on the Internet. BAT France said in a statement it had secured commitments from the advertiser Expresstabac and site hosting Aucland, to "clean up ads. The cigarette had given notice October 16 arrest for impersonating BAT and selling cigarettes illegally. The host has pledged not to broadcast these ads.
Other warnings were issued by BAT. One for the site and the advertiser beebarter.com expresstabacnews@gmail.com and one for the site and the advertiser annonces100×100.com laboutiquedutabac@yahoo.fr. The cigarette maker BAT claims that these sites and advertisers to steal his identity and violate Article L3511-3 of the Code of Public Health which prohibits the sale of tobacco promotion in France.Mid-October, the spokesman for the government, Luc Chatel, had indicated he was "absolutely out of question for public health reasons, to authorize the sale of tobacco through the Internet.
A quarter of the cigarettes would be purchased abroad
The websites offer cartridges 8 euros against an average of 50 euros at tobacconists. According to research firm EPSY conducted for the manufacturer BAT, 24% of cigarettes consumed in France in 2008 were actually purchased abroad. Budget Minister Eric Woerth said on Thursday that the price of cigarettes would increase by 6% in the coming weeks at the request of manufacturers. An increase which could be added to the revaluation of taxes under the draft law on financing social security (PLFSS).