“I smoke it morning, noon and evening. It tastes good,” shares Lilou, 15 years old. In front of the Montaigne high school in Bordeaux, the puff is the essential accessory when leaving class. “Everyone has one,” says the young girl in second grade. With its colorful packaging and attractive price, the disposable electronic cigarette, with or without nicotine, is a hit among younger generations. According to the latest study by the Alliance Against Tobacco (ACT), published on November 21, 81% of 13-16 year olds are aware of this product, and 18% have already used it, an increase of 5 points compared to 2022.
The puff soon to be banned: what do we blame it for?
The puff arrives this Monday, December 4 at the National Assembly. MPs are considering a bill to ban these disposable cigarettes. The text, supported by the government, will then go to the Senate for a ban in the summer of 2024, if it is adopted. The puff, an English word meaning puff, is a disposable, pre-filled and pre-charged electronic cigarette, sold in tobacco shops for between 7 and 12 euros. It is available in various flavors – chocolate, strawberry, mango, cotton candy, etc. – in a wide range of bright colors. It can contain up to 20 mg/ml of nicotine salts, for those manufactured within the European Union.
Pointed out for facilitating access to smoking and causing environmental damage, in particular because of the microplastics and chemicals they contain, puffs should be withdrawn from the French market by the end of the year. A decision which raises concerns among tobacconists. “It’s always the same thing,” reacts Didier, manager of a tobacco shop in the center of Bordeaux. Consumption will not decrease, nor will the ecological impact. It's just a loss of income for traders like us. »
Parallel markets
The sale of these disposable cigarettes represents between 5 and 10% of its annual turnover. For four years in the profession, Didier has noticed a continuous decline in tobacco sales, with 10% less each year. “One day, we will find ourselves alongside farmers [référence au mouvement de contestation des agriculteurs, NDLR]. Our profession is slowly dying,” he adds, bitterly.
GUILLAUME BONNAUD / SO
Young consumers tend to favor the resale of puffs through social networks.
“Consumption will not decrease, nor will the ecological impact. It’s just a loss of income for traders”
For him, the ban on puffs will not come anytime soon. “I don’t think it’s for this year, there are too many holes in the state budget. But it will happen eventually. » It is certain that this withdrawal of sales will not influence the consumption of young people who, rather than turning to other products, will continue to obtain their supplies through parallel markets.
Addicted
As he leaves Montaigne high school, Pierre puffs on his electronic cigarette. “It’s shit, what’s in the puffs,” he says. However, the 16-year-old young man made a business out of it for several months. He says he bought boxes of them from wholesalers – puffs of 9,000 to 16,000 puffs – then resold them to his comrades. “Young people my age don’t go to tobacco shops, it’s too expensive,” he explains. Today, he has ended this activity, but admits to having found a profitable business there, while brandishing his latest smartphone.
“I was influenced,” admits Juliette, a 16-year-old high school student who has been a smoker for six months. The sales ban will have no impact on the consumption of minors who prefer to turn to clandestine supply solutions, via Instagram for example where delivery is possible. “At first, you just want to try it to be stylish, but it’s true that it’s less stylish when you become addicted… I don’t plan on stopping,” she confides, between two watermelon-flavored puffs.
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