La guerre de tabac starts to smoke

And speaking of smoking, the mask is being applied to speed cameras throughout France. And no, I do NOT mean Jim Carrey. I mean this: France's tobacconists are protesting plans to force cigarette companies to use plain, unbranded packaging, by disabling traffic speed cameras. The radar 'hooding' - by covering them with bin liners - is symbolic: a 'cover up' that deprives the government of money in the same way that the anti-smoking legislation will reduce tobacco sales, and tax revenue, the protesters say. The first hooding took place over a month ago, and, by this week, speed trap cameras in as many as 20 of 97 districts had been affected, according to the group representing France's tabac bars, the Buralistes Confederation. Many of the tabac outlets, with their distinctive red cigar-shaped signs, are also bars and cafes. Some sell stamps and newspapers too, but they point out that a key function on their monopoly on tobacco sales is collecting tobacco tax: €14 billion for the French Treasury every year, according to the confederation. No responsible treasury should need to line their pockets with funds obtained from the sale of such an evil poison. Those things are called cancer sticks for a reason.