Yasmina Kattou / Photo credit: Artur Widak / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP 07:24, November 29, 2023

The Minister of Health presented a new anti-smoking plan on Tuesday. In addition to an increase in the price of the pack until 2026, smokers will no longer be able to smoke in certain public places. But the government also intends to tackle e-cigarettes. A mistake for some addictologists.

€12 in 2025, €13 in 2026... The price of a pack of cigarettes will continue to rise in France, as part of a new anti-smoking plan presented on Tuesday by the Minister of Health, Aurélien Rousseau. Already in force in 73 departments, the ban on smoking in certain public places, such as forests, beaches or near schools, will also be extended to the whole country.

But e-cigarettes are also in the state's sights. With this new plan, e-cigarette products will now have plain packaging, without logos or branding like conventional cigarettes. The Ministry of Health also wants to limit the tastes available for purchase.

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Complicating the life of vapers, a "regrettable" choice

However, for Jean-Pierre Couteron, addictologist, maintaining a varied palette of flavors for vaping liquids is essential. "The function of flavours is to make vaping bearable because as such, it's not as pleasant as that," he told Europe 1 radio.

"It is important to be concerned about the comfort of the user. It would be unfortunate if we made the vaper's life more complicated," adds the specialist. Especially since the doctor reminds us that vaping is one of the key tools to help you quit smoking.

A ban on childish tastes?

In an electronic cigarette, "no tobacco, no combustion. So that's two major disadvantages of cigarettes. It's best to use nicotine on its own. Vaping is a lifeline for people who are stuck in tobacco addiction and can't get out of it by other means. You should never block the emergency doors," says Jean-Pierre Couteron.

On the other hand, the doctor agrees that a ban should be put in place on tastes that are too childish, such as cotton candy, which could be an entry of young people into smoking.