Tobacco supply for smokers in France, 2014-2022

Taking stock to inform policymaking

This briefing paper tackles the issue of the tobacco supply for smokers from several angles: the buying behaviours reported, the development of average quantities consumed, or even the supply within the legal domestic market (network of tobacco retailers). Routine production of this data appears important to maintain in the years to come, in order to inform public action regarding the role of tax leverage as a means of reducing tobacco smoking, and its link with other measures.

No correlation between place of purchase and decrease in tobacco volumes at tobacco retailers

It is clear from this paper that the significant decrease in the volumes of tobacco seen in tobacco retailers is likely only very loosely related to a change in smokers’ place of purchase habits. The decrease in the number of daily smokers aged 18-75 and the number of cigarettes that they claim to smoke on a daily basis indeed explain two-thirds of the decrease observed, the remaining third likely being related to the other factors described in this report.