“Let Them Eat Cake”: Harm Reduction Edition
June 08, 2026 by rstreet.org
“Let Them Eat Cake”: Harm Reduction Edition
France's ban on oral nicotine products contradicts its successful harm reduction efforts against smoking, with adult smoking decreasing to 18.2% in 2024. Usage of reduced-risk products, like vapes and nicotine pouches, has aided in this progress. Nicotine pouches have shown to be safer than cigarettes, with minimal youth-related issues. Banning pouches while leaving more harmful tobacco legal misguides harm reduction principles. Enforcing prohibition could lead to an unregulated market. France should opt for regulation, implementing age restrictions and quality control measures. The ban overlooks evidence and may harm public health, disconnecting from successful smoking reduction strategies.
28.30% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 15.7 million current smokers in France.
SOURCE: GSTHR
