To mark World No Tobacco Day, Santé publique France is encouraging every smoker to try to quit and is leveraging social media to amplify the movement. With new findings, a campaign to encourage quitting, and a call to action, the goal is clear: to make May 31 a pivotal moment for initiating the transition to a smoke-free life.

A positive trend… marked by significant inequalities

Santé publique France analyzed data from the 2021 Santé publique France Health Barometer to better understand the dynamics of smoking cessation and the profiles of those who successfully quit.

This analysis, published today in the BEH, shows that nearly a quarter of adults aged 18 to 85 in mainland France are former daily smokers (23.9%), and among them, nearly a third quit within the previous five years (29.8%). Both of these figures are up from 2010 and show that smoking cessation has largely contributed to the decline in smoking observed between 2016 and 2019.

Smoking cessation is more common among older adults, those with a college degree, or those using e-cigarettes. Conversely, it is less common among the unemployed, people facing financial difficulties, heavy drinkers, or women who have recently experienced depression.

These data reflect encouraging progress but also reveal disparities based on social profiles and living conditions. These results confirm the need to strengthen tobacco control policies by adapting them to the social, economic, and psychological realities of smokers.

They also underscore the need for a tailored and supportive approach to smoking cessation, and the role of healthcare professionals is crucial in this regard.

A national campaign to support attempts to quit

With this in mind, Santé publique France is rolling out the second phase of its national prevention campaign, “Les tentatives,” launched in February 2025. It aims to address the fears and barriers surrounding quitting smoking, reminding people that it may take several attempts before achieving permanent success. It encourages every smoker to view quitting as a process, where each attempt is a step that counts toward success.

On World No Tobacco Day, the campaign gains new momentum with a strong objective: to make May 31 a catalyst day, centered on the message: “A day to try to quit.”

May 31 is an opportunity to try to quit: because every attempt counts and can be the first step toward quitting for good.

A digital initiative to amplify the movement

To amplify the impact of this campaign, Santé publique France is launching a viral social media initiative starting May 28. The goal: to create a collective “smoke-free” momentum and raise awareness of Tabac info service.

• A credible health “profile” deeply engaged with its community—Michel Cymes will encourage his followers to try to quit smoking on May 31 and invite them to share their experiences, the challenges they face, and their advice.

• Engaging content – A video posted on his Instagram and TikTok accounts, as well as on those of Tabac info service (Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook), will encourage smokers to commit to making an attempt.

Resources to support every attempt

• Personalized tools at www.tabac-info-service.fr

• A free app to support you every day

• Free support from tobacco specialists via 39 89, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday (no surcharge)