The latest anti-smoking measures have not reduced general consumption, even if among young people, the figures are encouraging.
The 2016 Health Barometer, published by Public health France, takes stock of the tobacco consumption of the French, who remain true to their reputation as heavy smokers. More than a third of them say they are smokers. Adding ex-smokers, two in three French people have or have had a history with cigarettes. It is much more than our German, Belgian, Spanish or Dutch neighbors (one in four). The United States and Australia do even better, with just 15% addicts.
Prohibition in public places, increase in the price of the packet and roll-your-own tobacco, prevention campaigns, tobacco-free months … Initiatives are multiplying in an attempt to reduce national consumption, with varying degrees of success: since 2010, consumption has increased. stable, but the trend among young people is encouraging. On the other hand, between 2010 and 2016, it increased among the disadvantaged social classes, going from 35.2 to 37.5%.
General consumption is not going down. According to the results of the barometer, 34.5% of French people aged 15 to 75 smoke, including 29% every day. Men are still in the lead, with more than 38% smokers, including 32% daily, while women are less numerous (31%), and less addicted (25% smoke daily).
Teenagers smoke too much. More than one in three boys (36%) aged 15 to 24 and one in four girls (25%) smoke. For the latter, the prevalence fell by 5 points between 2010 and 2016, while it has been stable for 10 years in men.
An effect of generations. The largest proportions of smokers are still found among 25-34 year olds. Men in this age group are indeed more than four in ten (a third for women) to burn at least one every day. But it is also among them that the drop in smoking is the most significant. In 2010, they were almost one in two.
The age groups under 45 are globally those for which the figures are down, even slightly. Encouraging results for the future. Prevention campaigns, actions like the month without tobacco, undoubtedly have more impact on them.
On the other hand, among those over 45, the proportion of smokers is on the general rise, among men, but especially among women. “The generations of women in whom smoking has developed are now between 55 and 75 years old, and some of them have not stopped smoking,” explain the authors of the report.
One in two unemployed people smoke. This is a trend that has been confirmed since 2000: social inequalities are found in consumption. The most disadvantaged social classes (and the least educated) are those who smoke the most. There are more than 37% of smokers among the lowest income third of the population, against only 21% in the wealthiest third. It is even worse among the unemployed, who are 50% smokers.
And these gaps keep growing.
The electronic cigarette does not take. A real social phenomenon a few years ago, the e-cigarette craze seems to be falling. Only 3.3% of French people vape, including 2.5% daily. This figure has been falling since 2014: 5.5% said they used it.
The accessory no longer attracts new consumers, and consumption among young people is declining, which tends to confirm a fad.
.
