The EU Just Keeps Invading the Tobacco Market

On May 10th, the Conseil d'Etat, the highest administrative court in France, decided to ask for clarifications from the European Union Court of Justice regarding the recent EU Tobacco Products Directive. The directive would require larger health warnings, banning packs with under 20 cigarettes, banning characterizing flavors like menthol or vanilla, standardizing the shape of all packs, and heavily regulating the sale of e-cigarettes. Beyond the obvious restriction of freedom of choice, when does this regulatory action cross the line to restricting free speech?