Smoking is becoming less and less accepted in French society.

According to a survey by Public Health France carried out using data from the 2022 Health Barometer – Tobacco Prevention telephone survey, based on a randomly obtained sample of 3,229 individuals aged 18 to 75 living in mainland France, and data from the 2005, 2010 and 2017 Public Health France barometers, a majority of the population believes that smoking is socially devalued.[1].

French society increasingly unfavorable to tobacco

More than one in two French people (52.6%) believe that they are less accepted as smokers, and two-thirds (66.6%) believe that society disapproves of smoking. Even among smokers, 86.3% say that their loved ones would prefer that they quit.

These results reflect a reduction in social norms favorable to smoking, a phenomenon observed since 2005. However, this "denormalization" varies according to profiles, as smokers tend to underestimate this social disapproval (49 % compared to 54 % among non-smokers). Education level also plays a role, with less educated people perceiving smoking as more acceptable, while smokers from wealthy backgrounds are more sensitive to anti-smoking norms.

This development is largely explained by public policies implemented over the past two decades: ban on smoking in public places (2007), awareness campaigns, plain packaging (2017), increase in the price of tobacco (2017-2020), etc.

On the other hand, consumer surveys highlight an increase in the use of electronic cigarettes, now experienced by 42% of adults, signaling the effects of the strategy of tobacco manufacturers positioning themselves on nicotine products as a whole.

Smoking is declining but disparities persist

Alongside this shift in attitudes, the number of daily smokers is declining. In 2023, 23,000 of 18-75 year-olds smoked every day, compared to 25,000 in 2021, the lowest rate since the 1990s, although it remains very high compared to most countries. Moreover, this decline masks significant social inequalities: people without qualifications (29,000) or on lower incomes (30,000) remain significantly more likely to smoke than those with higher education (17,000) or those on higher incomes (17,000). Men (25,000) also continue to smoke more than women (21,000).

Similarly, the proportion of daily smokers among the unemployed fell by 10 points between 2021 and 2023, from 45.8 % to 35.7 %.

The disparities are also territorial and geographical. recent joint survey by the French Observatory for Drugs and Addictive Trends (OFDT) and Public Health France reveals for example that daily smoking is low in Île-de-France (19.6 %) and in Brittany (19.5 %) with a difference of more than 6 points with regions such as Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (26.5 %) and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (26.8 %).

In the survey published by Public Health France, the social norm of smoking among young adults remains nuanced. A significant proportion (29.1%) of 18-34 year-olds believe that smoking helps them approach a stranger or feel comfortable in a group (27.3%), compared to 21.7% in 2017. This link between cigarettes and socializing may have been reinforced by post-Covid isolation. Smoking prevalence also remains high among 25-44 year-olds (29.1%), before decreasing with age.

On the other hand, the decline in smoking is particularly strong among adolescents. And the decline in smoking in the 18-24 age group is beginning to be reflected. Their daily consumption (23 %) is now lower than that of 25-34 year-olds, which could make the goal of a tobacco-free generation by 2032 achievable (with less than 5 % prevalence among young people aged 18 at that date).

Public Health France calls for continued efforts to denormalize tobacco

Although smoking has declined since the 1970s, it is still perceived as socially acceptable by a significant portion of the population, particularly young people. Public Health France emphasizes the need to continue and adapt denormalization efforts, taking into account differences in perceptions related to smoking status and sociodemographic characteristics. Future surveys should assess changes in perceptions, including regarding e-cigarettes. Further research is also needed to better understand the factors influencing these perceptions and the effectiveness of public policies.

Reducing the prevalence of smoking remains a major public health priority: “ Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in France, accounting for 75,000 preventable premature deaths in 2015 in mainland France, or 13.1% of deaths. " recalls Public Health France.

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[1]De Rosso S., Guignard R., Pasquereau A., Andler R., Beck F., Nguyen-Thanh V., “Perceptions of smoking in mainland France in 2022 among 18-75 year-olds: where is the denormalization?”, Bull Epidemiol Hebd, 2025;(10):164-71, https://beh.santepubliquefrance.fr/beh/2025/10/2025_10_1.html

National Committee Against Smoking |