France - Clearing the Air

News

Majority of French smokers turning to cross-border and illegal markets as prices rise, study finds

A majority of French smokers are now sourcing tobacco and vaping products outside traditional retail channels, with many turning to cross-border shopping or illicit markets as prices increase, according to a new national survey. The Ifop study of 3,000 smokers and vapers…

News

Harm reduction critics reject Sweden’s success in reducing smoking

A tightly controlled webinar that excluded many consumer voices has mounted a sharp attack on Sweden’s world-leading record on smoking reduction - dismissing the role of safer nicotine products and questioning the science behind harm reduction. The closed-door forum, Sweden: Setting it…

News

One in four vapers say they would return to smoking under proposed French law

A quarter of vapers in France say they would return to smoking if proposed restrictions under Article 23 of the draft 2026 finance bill are enacted, a new survey shows. A new survey by OpinionWay for FIVAPE reveals that weakening access to…

News Science

Teen nicotine use shifts away from cigarettes as smoking continues to fall, global study finds

A WHO-backed analysis found teenagers were more likely to use non-combustible nicotine products than cigarettes in 31 of 57 countries studied Public health authorities say vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, because it avoids tobacco combustion Long-term projections show teen cigarette…

News Science

Study challenges ‘gateway’ claims finding vapes involved in only 5% of teen smoking starts

New review finds vaping involved in just 5.3% of teen cigarette experimentation in analysed cohorts Most ‘gateway’ studies excluded nearly two thirds of teen vapers and three quarters of new smokers from their main analysis Study design prevents detecting any potential ‘diversion’…

News

NZ health minister commended for science-based vaping stance

New Zealand’s Associate Health Minister Casey Costello has been praised internationally for rejecting what she called a “ridiculous” ranking that penalises the country despite its world-leading decline in smoking rates. Minister rebukes global index Minister Costello criticised the Global Tobacco Industry Interference…

News

COP 11: The “dirty ashtray” award goes to…New Zealand?

New Zealand - which has some of the world’s lowest smoking rates and highest cigarette taxes - has been given the “dirty ashtray” award by the Global Alliance on Tobacco Control (GATC) in a move that brings into stark focus just how…

News

Ireland weighing nicotine pouch ban, says chief medical officer

Ireland’s Department of Health is considering new restrictions on nicotine pouches as part of its efforts to curb nicotine use among young people. The proposal, which could extend existing tobacco control laws, comes as health officials debate how to balance youth protection…

News

French MPs challenge nicotine pouch ban in new budget battle

France’s planned ban on nicotine pouches from next spring could be in jeopardy after a series of amendments were tabled in the National Assembly aimed at softening or replacing the measure. The prohibition, due to take effect in March 2026, is part…

Subscribe to Newsletter