France: Denormalization of tobacco is progressing in public opinion

The results of the EROPP 2023 survey conducted by the OFDT[1] reveal changes in the way the French perceive the dangers of psychoactive substances. While tobacco and alcohol are increasingly often considered dangerous, even at low doses, drugs such as cannabis and cocaine give rise to a perception of lower risk. This redefinition of representations is no longer based solely on the legal status of the products but on their actual use, in a context marked by a strengthening of public health and denormalization policies, particularly for tobacco and alcohol[2].

A Redefined Perception of Danger: The Case of Tobacco and Alcohol

One of the lessons learned from the EROPP 2023 survey is the gradual evolution of the perception of the dangers of tobacco and alcohol within the French population. Regarding tobacco, the proportion of French people believing it to be dangerous upon experimentation increased from 22% in 1999 to 27% in 2023, a modest increase over more than two decades. Similarly, the proportion of people considering tobacco dangerous even with occasional use increased from 1% to 17%, which marks an improvement, but still leaves a large majority of the population underestimating the risks associated with non-regular consumption. These figures suggest that, despite the significant efforts made in terms of tobacco prevention and denormalization for more than twenty years, a significant part of social representations about tobacco still needs to be transformed.

Although France already had a relatively solid legislative framework for tobacco control, starting with the Veil Law (1976) and then the Évin Law (1991), the ratification in 2004 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) marked a turning point in the structuring and management of public policies. This international treaty not only strengthened the legal obligations of States Parties; above all, it made it possible to frame public action within a coherent strategy, based on clear objectives, intersectoral coordination, regular monitoring, and close collaboration with civil society. It is also within this framework that the fund to combat addictions was developed, which today makes it possible to finance long-term prevention actions.

Since this ratification, France has intensified its efforts through flagship measures: a ban on smoking in public places, repeated price increases, the implementation of plain packaging in 2017, national awareness campaigns, and the gradual expansion of smoke-free areas. While these policies have helped to change the public's perception of the risks associated with tobacco, recent data shows that this change is still partial, particularly with regard to the perceived dangers of occasional consumption.

As for alcohol, the other legal drug, along with tobacco, that causes the majority of preventable premature deaths in the country, its perception has also evolved over time. In 1999, 84% of French people considered it dangerous only if consumed daily. In 2023, this share had fallen to 71%, while the proportion of those who considered alcohol dangerous even if consumed occasionally had more than doubled (from 10% to 24%). These figures reflect a growing awareness of the link between alcohol consumption, health risks (particularly cancer and cardiovascular disease), accidents, and violence.

This still partial evolution of the population's perception of danger results from a more scientific and health-based approach to psychoactive substances, which is the basis of public policies. The health discourse held is coherent, supported by the State, health agencies, associations and healthcare professionals. The cumulative effect of legislative measures and prevention actions thus contributes to challenging the long-permissive social representations of these products, far removed from the reality of their toxicity. While the health messages are clear, the continued influence of the alcohol lobby continues to weigh heavily on public action, hindering the adoption of many effective measures, in particular tax increases, which have been identified as a major lever for reducing the initiation and consumption of young people. This asymmetry in the implementation of regulatory policies weakens the coherence of the entire system for combating addictive behavior.

Cannabis and cocaine: a declining perception of danger

Contrary to the trends observed for tobacco and alcohol, the perceived dangerousness of cannabis and cocaine has been on a downward trend for the past twenty-five years. This shift, well documented by the EROPP 2023 survey, illustrates the gradual shift in social perceptions of certain illicit substances, often influenced by media exposure, personal experience, or public debates on legislation.

Concerning cannabis, the decline in risk perception has been particularly marked over the last two decades. In 1999, 54% of French people believed that this substance was dangerous upon first experimentation; only 38% of them shared this opinion in 2023. Conversely, the proportion of people considering that cannabis is only dangerous after daily use has significantly increased, from 28% to 44%. Furthermore, the proportion of respondents believing that its use is never dangerous remains marginal but relatively stable: 1% in 2023 compared to 5% in 1999. These changes reflect a notable shift in perceptions towards a relative trivialization of cannabis, particularly in its occasional uses, despite the available knowledge on its short- and long-term effects, particularly among young people. Several factors may explain this change. On the one hand, the widespread use of cannabis across all social categories and among young adults is fueling a less alarmist perception. On the other hand, the recurring debate surrounding its decriminalization, or even legalization, including for medical purposes, is helping to reconfigure the product's image among the general public. Added to this is the gradual questioning, in both scientific discourse and public opinion, of the so-called "escalation" theory, according to which cannabis use inevitably leads to the consumption of harder drugs. In 2023, only 36% of French people said they "completely agree" with this theory, compared to 40% in 1999, and the proportion of those who do not subscribe to it at all is increasing.

The perception of cocaine follows a more ambivalent trajectory. While it remains largely perceived as a "very dangerous" drug (88 % of French people), its image seems to be evolving among certain segments of the population. In particular, French people who have already used cocaine have significantly different representations than non-users. Among experimenters, 74 % consider that it "helps you have fun and party," 44 % (compared to 14% of non-experimenters) that it allows you to "improve your performance," and 24 % (compared to 6% of non-experimenters) believe that it is "possible to live normally" while using it.

At the same time, the notoriety of cocaine has increased significantly: in 2023, 74% of French people spontaneously mentioned it among the drugs they knew, compared to 53% in 1999. This increase in the social visibility of cocaine reflects its wider distribution, particularly in certain party and professional circles, and also reflects an increase in its consumption in the general population.

©Generation Without Tobacco

AE

[1] Dalong Li, Antoine Philippon, Olivier Le Nézet, Vincent Eroukmanoff, Eric Janssen and Stanislas Spilka, OPINIONS AND REPRESENTATIONS OF THE FRENCH ON DRUGS IN 2023, Report, OFDT, July 2025

[2] Press release, TWENTY YEARS OF EVOLUTION OF FRENCH REPRESENTATIONS AND OPINIONS ON DRUGS, OFDT, July 17, 2025, consulted on July 18, 2025