The hypothesis of financing the cut in excise duties by raising cigarette prices is, for Codacons, simply "madness." "It is an absurd proposal that is wrong from every point of view." This is stated by the association in a press release.
"We have always been opposed to smoking and in favour of measures to discourage tobacco consumption," writes Codacons, "but in this case it would not be a health measure, but a fiscal trick that would end up making the same citizens who fill up at the pump pay for the discount on excise duties."
"Taxing only smokers would amount to blatant discrimination against a specific category of citizens, lending itself to appeals in courts of justice," Codacons warns. "At this point, why not also tax those who eat junk food or drink fizzy drinks, products that, just like cigarettes, are harmful to human health?"
According to the association, "the government would do well to set aside this foolish idea and seek the resources for the excise duty cut by reaching into the pockets not of citizens, but of the oil companies."
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