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The new laws concerning smoking, will be put in place in May 2016 in France, and will consist of all cigarette packets produced the same size, with no logo. In its place, a large health warning will be covering the majority of the packing, which aims to reduce smoking, as it makes it less appealing, and highlights the health warning. As well as this law, the ‘Assemblée nationale’ have also voted for another law to be put in place in May 2016, and this will be concerning drivers. All drivers will be forbidden to smoke in their car in the presence of a child/teenager 18 years or younger. Although this is a law which could help prevent passive smoking, and lessen the amount of cigarettes smokers have, the worry is that the smokers may not be caught by the police. After all, it would be difficult to check whether each smoker who drives has a person less than 18 years old in their car. However, the more laws that are put in place, the more it will have a positive outcome to smoking in general, and add to the message that smoking kills.

In my personal opinion, I think it will take a lot for people in France to stop smoking. Wherever I go in France, I feel a victim of passive smoking, and at University people leave class not to go to the toilet, but to smoke. Also on train journeys, the whole carriage will get out at every stop to have a puff on a cigarette. It is very much a social thing in France, and considered the norm to smoke. People will be genuinely surprised if you do not smoke, or do not have a lighter on you. They immediately ask, ‘Where are you from?’ as they assume you cannot be French as the majority smoke. This is a truly shocking and devastating situation which needs to be dramatically changed to save lives.

In England, there is definitely more awareness about the health warnings of smoking, with many adverts, posters etc. and I feel as though it is looked badly upon if somebody is a smoker. However this is not the case in France, and more advertising and educating needs to be put in place because obviously the population does not regard the severe health warnings as a reason to quit smoking. To add to this, the prices of cigarettes in England are £8.47 on average for a packet of 20 cigarettes, whereas in France, converted to pounds it is £5.47. Although the price of cigarettes corresponds to the country and its economy, I do believe that the price should increase because maybe people may think twice about spending their money.

Hopefully these articles have enlightened you about the topic of smoking in France, and how the smoking rates are a lot higher than in England. The fact that it is the main reason for the death rate shows that something needs to be done, and hopefully the laws of 2016 will have a positive impact and reduce the amount of smokers in France.

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