France to Raise Tobacco Taxes, Prohibit Disposable Vapes, and Tighten Outdoor Smoking Regulations in Pursuit of a Tobacco-Free Generation by 2032
France is embarking on an ambitious plan to curtail the health impact of tobacco consumption and achieve a “tobacco-free” generation by 2032, defined as a scenario where less than 5 percent of the population engages in smoking. Despite decades of declining smoking rates, approximately a quarter of French adults, roughly 12 million people, continue to smoke daily, leading to about 75,000 avoidable deaths annually.
As part of the comprehensive strategy, the French government will implement higher tobacco taxes, enforce a ban on disposable vapes, and introduce more stringent restrictions on outdoor smoking. The initiative addresses the concerning statistic that 15 percent of teenagers in France have vaped, with 47 percent initiating nicotine consumption through e-cigarettes, according to a survey by ACT Alliance Contre Le Tabac published in November.
The new regulations include a ban on smoking at beaches, near public buildings such as schools, and in public parks and forests starting next year. While local authorities had already prohibited smoking at over 7,000 outdoor locations, including beaches, forests, and parks nationwide, this move marks the first nationwide ban of its kind.
Additionally, the government aims to extend the plain packaging requirement for cigarette packs to vaping products and establish a minimum tobacco price of €13 ($14) per pack. Health Minister Aurelien Rousseau has announced plans to implement most measures early next year, with the ban on disposable vapes requiring legislative approval expected to go before Parliament in December.
Despite the positive intention to combat smoking, some tobacco harm reduction activists express reservations about the proposed prohibition of single-use vapes. Michael Landl, director of the World Vapers Alliance, warns that such bans may lead consumers back to smoking or drive them towards black markets. Advocates for harm reduction urge France to adopt a balanced approach, citing countries like Sweden where a variety of less harmful alternatives have contributed to significant public health gains.
