Smoking as usual in cafe society

By Quentin Sommerville BBC, Paris

Paris' pavement cafes are no less smoke-filled today than they were yesterday - despite a 20% increase in the price of a pack of cigarettes.

Many of France's tobacconists shut up shop in protest, but in Paris at least half of the familiar "bureaux tabac" remained open.

Some customers say they will go abroad for cigarettes

In the Cafe Washington, just off the Champs Elysee, the lunchtime crowd queued as usual at the corner tobacconist counter.

Nina Carlondes came in for a coffee, and a packet of 20 of her usual brand. Even though she is a student, she says the price increases will not make her stop smoking.

"I go to Spain a lot, so I'll buy most of my cigarettes when I'm there," she said.

With French cigarettes heading towards the top of the European league table in terms of cost, many others are expected to make the trip across the border, or use the black market.

Smoking isn't good for your health, but it should be left to individuals to decide if they want to smoke. After all, it's their problem Paul Gonzalez Cafe customer

But Paulo Gonzalez will not be one of them. He has had enough of the price rises - today's is the second of three - and is giving up smoking.

"This latest price rise will make it very difficult form me to pay for cigarettes every day," he said.

"Smoking isn't good for your health, but it should be left to individuals to decide if they want to smoke. After all, it's their problem."

But the problem for the French Government is the number of people smoking in France has been declining too slowly.

Of particular concern is the number of young people smoking - and the number of pregnant women who still light up.

Doctors estimate that one third of women continue smoking during their pregnancy.

Health or money?

However in the Cafe Washington, and elsewhere in France, the suspicion is that the tax increases have got as much to do with the government's financial concerns as with public health concerns.

France has a $8.5bn gap in its health budget, and the government has already been warned by the European Union that it has to cut back spending or raise revenues.

Regardless of the motivation, the medical community predicts that today's price increase will cut the number of smokers in France, by around 6%.

For that reason alone, the government is determined to press ahead with a third and final price cut in January next year.

Tax rises are never popular, but even those most opposed to the price changes, including the patrons of the Cafe Washington, did not deny that they are in the long-term interests of the health of the nation.