Tobacco--current French legislation

A recent French campaign to bring about a reduction in tobacco consumption is described. A number of factors were used to convince the public that smoking is dangerous: it was pointed out that, of all cancers, those in which tobacco plays an important role are increasing the most rapidly; another is that smoking reduces life expectancy. A study of the smoking habit in France showed that it is acquired earlier and earlier; another study showed that 60,000 deaths a year can be linked to smoking; the cost of medical services related to smoking was calculated to be 22 thousand million francs. By comparison, the budget of the anti-smoking campaign was 3 million francs, but this was sufficient to reduce the risk by 7%. The second objective of the programme was to give non-smokers the possibility to assert their rights. The main target of the campaign was young people. The social pressure on them to begin smoking could be reduced if the number of smokers were reduced, if non-smokers asserted their rights and if the image of the smoker were debunked. The campaign was supported by anti-smoking legislation which came into effect in July 1976. Smaller campaigns were planned to follow annually. The main targets of the law were advertising and publicity; in addition, smoking was prohibited in public places, public means of transport and educational establishments. The effectiveness of the campaign was measured by sampling changes in behaviour and in sales volume: there was a 5% decrease in the number of smokers and a 15% decrease in consumption of those who continued to smoke.