France, like lots of its European neighbors, has publicly declared its aspiration to realize a smoke-free future. But its present strategy to tobacco management is essentially flawed. With smoking prevalence remaining stubbornly excessive—particularly in economically deprived communities—the French authorities’s reliance on punitive measures, comparable to extreme tobacco taxation and restrictive insurance policies on safer nicotine options, will not be solely ineffective but additionally counterproductive.
Cigarette costs in France are among the many highest in Europe, hovering round €11 per pack. This value level, pushed by steep taxation, was meant to discourage smoking. Nonetheless, roughly one in 4 French adults nonetheless smoke day by day. As an alternative of quitting, many are turning to the black market to keep away from paying inflated retail costs. In truth, round a 3rd of people who smoke in France depend on illicit channels, undermining each public well being objectives and authorities income.
Black markets and damaged belief
This outdated, prohibitionist mindset contrasts sharply with rising world consensus. International locations that incorporate behavioral science and financial actuality into their public well being methods—comparable to Sweden—have seen measurable success in decreasing smoking charges by means of hurt discount.
European Curiosity revealed that this disconnection between state coverage and real-world conduct has led to a deeper problem: a disaster of public belief. Many French residents not view the federal government’s tobacco management efforts as honest makes an attempt to guard well being. As an alternative, they understand them as revenue-generating workout routines, void of real compassion or understanding. Consequently, smoking cessation campaigns are sometimes seen as disingenuous and even manipulative, and authorities messaging lacks the credibility essential to affect behaviour meaningfully.
One of the vital obtrusive weaknesses in France’s tobacco coverage is its outright dismissal of hurt discount. Safer nicotine options—comparable to e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches—are well known by worldwide well being consultants as highly effective instruments for smoking cessation. But as a substitute of selling these merchandise, the French authorities has taken steps to limit or ban them fully. The current prohibition of nicotine pouches is a working example, treating all types of nicotine consumption as equally dangerous and ignoring the huge variations in danger between flamable and non-combustible merchandise.
This outdated, prohibitionist mindset contrasts sharply with rising world consensus. International locations that incorporate behavioral science and financial actuality into their public well being methods—comparable to Sweden—have seen measurable success in decreasing smoking charges by means of hurt discount. In contrast, France continues to double down on tax hikes and restrictive bans, a method that drives customers into the shadows and fails to ship improved well being outcomes. Equally, the Netherlands faces rising illicit cigarette commerce—an estimated 39% of packs at the moment are sourced from exterior the nation, on account of native restrictions.
Why Europe’s tobacco technique wants a reset
On the EU stage, related tensions are taking part in out wherever prohibition reigns supreme. Regardless of these crimson flags, EU officers like Dutch Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra are pushing for bloc-wide tax harmonization. Whereas taking it to an entire different excessive, Bulgaria is shifting towards a complete ban on all vaping merchandise. Pending EU approval, the measure would outlaw not solely disposable vapes however reusable gadgets as nicely.
Exterior the EU, just like the UK, Switzerland has taken a extra focused strategy with its current determination to ban disposable vapes. The transfer, pushed by environmental considerations and rising youth use, gained parliamentary assist regardless of opposition from segments of the political spectrum. Whereas the intent—to curb youth entry and cut back waste—is comprehensible, critics fear {that a} lack of nuance might hurt grownup people who smoke in search of easy-to-use cessation instruments.
A technique which undermines itself
In truth, a current UK ballot reveals that almost one in 5 customers anticipate returning to smoking. This highlights the hazard of ignoring the wants of deprived people who smoke who usually depend on disposables resulting from affordability and ease. Public well being organizations like Yorkshire Most cancers Analysis are urging governments to strike a extra balanced strategy. Whereas defending youth and the atmosphere is essential, insurance policies should additionally be certain that grownup people who smoke retain entry to safer nicotine merchandise. That is particularly crucial for people in low-income or unstable housing conditions who might not have the ability to spend money on or preserve reusable gadgets.
Distinguished voices like Clive Bates have harassed the necessity for proportionate regulation that encourages the transition to reusable vaping merchandise with out alienating people who smoke. For example, lifting the EU’s arbitrary 2 ml tank restrict may cut back waste and make merchandise extra interesting to grownup customers—a simple win that aligns environmental and public well being objectives.
In the meantime, misinformation on the EU stage threatens to derail progress. European Well being Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi not too long ago claimed that vaping is as dangerous as, or worse than, smoking—an announcement that drew fast backlash from public well being consultants and client advocacy teams. Many THR teams together with European Tobacco Hurt Discount Advocates (ETHRA) criticized the remarks as not solely scientifically inaccurate but additionally probably harmful, particularly because the EU prepares to revise the Tobacco Merchandise Directive.
The European dilemma: prohibition vs progress
As Europe stands at a crucial juncture, the trail ahead is evident to anybody dedicated to science and pragmatism. France and its neighbours should embrace hurt discount as a central pillar of tobacco management. This implies investing in safer options, regulating them intelligently, and speaking transparently with the general public. Solely then can Europe hope to realize its purpose of a smoke-free future—one rooted not in punishment, however in compassion, innovation, and belief.
