Throughout the month until May 31, 2022, World No Tobacco Day, Public Health France is once again deploying its “Welcome to a tobacco-free life” campaign launched in 2021, which aims to denormalize tobacco consumption among 18 -64 years by inviting them to join the 50 million non-smokers in France.
While between 2014 and 2019, the number of daily smokers fell by nearly 1.9 million, France still has nearly 15 million daily and occasional smokers. According to the latest data from the Barometer of Public Health France 2020, there is also a break in this trend to quit smoking.
Smoking: marked social inequalities
This break can be explained in particular by a significant increase in the third of the French population with the lowest incomes. For the latter, the prevalence of smoking goes from 30% in 2019 to 33% in 2020. An increase which occurs independently of the first confinement in the spring of 2020 during the Covid-19 epidemic. According to Santé Publique France, social inequalities concerning smoking remain very marked in 2020, with a 15-point difference between the lowest and highest incomes.
It is in this context that the health agency is continuing its prevention initiatives related to smoking and is rebroadcasting its campaign in particular to promote the denormalization of tobacco among the general public with increased attention for the most vulnerable smokers.
A tobacco-free life campaign
Available in 3 videos of 10 seconds and broadcast on television and in VOL (video on computer, mobile or tablet), the spot presents life without tobacco as a desirable norm. Wishing to address as many people as possible, it highlights the daily victories over smoking and welcomes a life without tobacco.
An urban and transport poster campaign completes the system throughout France. It is also available on the web and social networks with web banners and the #VieSansTabac launched on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter. In addition, testimonials from ex-smokers are also broadcast via the digital press to highlight tobacco-free life.
The Agency also promotes accessible and free aids for supporting smokers, such as the Tobacco info service telephone service 39 89, a tool allowing free follow-up by a tobacco specialist or the Tobacco info service application which offers a personalized e-coaching.
Smoking in a few figures
• Globally, smoking is responsible for nearly 6 million deaths each year, of which more than 600,000 are non-smokers.
• Smoking is the second leading cause of death globally.
• In 2004, 28% of deaths attributable to passive smoking were children.
• Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, of which at least 250 are harmful and more than 50 are carcinogenic.
• Nearly 50% of children regularly breathe air polluted by tobacco smoke in public places.
