In France, smoking is falling slightly again

With 23.1% daily smokers in 2023, France has its lowest smoking prevalence ever recorded. These results appear to be consistent with the decrease in tobacco sales volumes and the increase in sales of nicotine replacement products. However, consumption levels remain high, even in comparison with other European countries, and particularly among people in precarious situations.

The survey was conducted by telephone between March and July 2023 among 15,000 people aged 18 to 75.[1].

Smoking in decline after several years of status quo

The smoking prevalence among 18-75 year-olds stands at 31.1% for 2023, including 23.1% of daily smoking, the lowest levels of daily consumption recorded by the indicator since its inception, and a decline of more than two points since 2021. However, the cessation of tax policies and the Covid-19 pandemic period had resulted in a recovery in consumption. In fact, smoking prevalence has fallen by less than one point since 2019. The indicator also notes gender disparities, since the prevalence of daily smoking among men stands at 25.4%, compared to 20.9% for women. According to Public Health France, this drop in daily consumption is consistent with the decrease in tobacco sales volumes in France, recorded between 2021 and 2023, as well as with the increase in sales of smoking cessation treatments.

Smoking remains a social marker in France

Although the decline in daily smoking affects all social categories, the survey results highlight the persistence of social inequalities in smoking. Among people without a diploma or with a diploma below the baccalaureate, the prevalence of daily smoking is 28.9%, i.e. 12 points higher than among higher education graduates. Similarly, people with a low income are more likely to smoke daily (23.9%) than those reporting a high level of income (17.3%). Finally, among 18-64 year-olds, the unemployed are particularly affected by smoking (35.8%), i.e. much more than employed workers (25.2%) or students (17.2%).

Vaping has been steadily increasing since 2016

According to the survey, e-cigarette consumption levels have been steadily increasing since 2016, and stand at 8.3% in daily prevalence. The results also note that more than four out of ten French people reported having used this product at least once in their life. Although many economic players in vaping put forward the argument of a transfer of consumption from tobacco products to e-cigarettes, the Public Health France survey does not provide data on the joint consumption of tobacco from these two products, called vapofumage. available data However, data on this subject indicate that more than one in two French people who consume electronic cigarettes also smoke tobacco products.

A delayed effect of public health policies

On the other hand, these results could be partly explained by a delayed effect of public policies implemented up to 2020. Indeed, the data from Santé publique France, focused on 18-75 year-olds, ignores tobacco consumption among the youngest. However, this has drastically decreased under the combined effect of various measures, such as the implementation of a tax trajectory or the introduction of plain packaging. Indeed, between 2017 and 2022, the prevalence of daily smoking among 17 year olds fell by almost 10 points, reaching 15.6%, the lowest level of consumption ever recorded among this population. In fact, due to the cohort effect, the sharp decline in tobacco consumption among adolescents translates several years later into a decrease in tobacco consumption among 18-75 year-olds.

A prevalence still too high

Despite a slight decline in consumption, the French situation remains particularly bad compared to other European countries, particularly due to the lack of a coherent anti-smoking policy. In the United Kingdom, the public authorities are considering banning the sale of tobacco and nicotine products to anyone born from 2009. In other words, the United Kingdom is the first country in the world to commit to a progressive ban on tobacco. At the same time, the country is pursuing an ambitious tax policy on tobacco products, with a packet of cigarettes selling for around 18 euros.

©Generation Without Tobacco

FT

[1] Public Health France & OFDT, Prevalence of smoking in mainland France in 2023 among 18-75 year-olds, 11/19/2023, (consulted the same day)