Thomas Fatôme, director general of the Caisse nationale de l’Assurance Maladie, proposed banning cigarette sales to anyone born after 2009 [1].
This proposal represents a shift toward a "tobacco-free generation" strategy. By implementing a sliding age ban, the government could theoretically eliminate legal nicotine access for young people over time, reducing the long-term burden of smoking-related illnesses on the national healthcare system.
Fatôme detailed the proposal during an interview on France Inter on Monday, July 6 [2]. The suggestion coincides with the release of the 2026 annual report, which emphasizes the ongoing need for aggressive intervention in tobacco control.
"La lutte contre le tabac reste un enjeu de santé publique majeur," Fatôme said [2].
The strategy targets individuals born after 2009 [1]. Under this model, the legal smoking age would effectively increase every year, ensuring that those born after the cutoff date never legally purchase cigarettes.
Fatôme said that current efforts are not sufficient to meet public health goals. He said that the administration has a moral obligation to implement stricter measures to protect future citizens from addiction.
"On peut aller plus loin et c’est de notre responsabilité," Fatôme said [2].
The proposal focuses on the systemic reduction of tobacco use across France. By preventing the initiation of smoking among the youth, the health agency aims to lower the incidence of chronic respiratory diseases, and cancers that strain public resources.
“La lutte contre le tabac reste un enjeu de santé publique majeur.”
This proposal mirrors 'generational smoking ban' policies explored in other jurisdictions, such as New Zealand. If adopted, France would move from a static legal smoking age to a dynamic one, effectively phasing out the legal sale of tobacco for all future generations to eliminate the long-term healthcare costs associated with nicotine addiction.
