New data shows fewer French teens are smoking cigarettes. For decades, cigarettes were basically part of the standard teen years in France—it wasn’t unusual to see teens lighting up during school breaks, synonymous with that effortlessly cool, slightly rebellious, Gallic vibe. But that image is starting to shift: new data from EnCLASS shows that cigarette smoking among secondary students has dropped to 6% smoking daily compared to 31% back in 2011. Even their occasional smoking has seen a major decline, falling from 70% in 2011 to 30% now. For many young people in France, cigarettes just aren’t cool anymore, with many seeing smoking as “ringard,” a.k.a. cringe and outdated. That said, nicotine hasn’t disappeared entirely: vaping and pouches are stepping in, with 7% of secondary school students vaping daily and 25% occasionally. (The Times)
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