In France, tobacco is still responsible for 75,000 premature deaths each year: a public health problem for which the City of Chambéry is committed alongside the League Against Cancer. The community has thus set up numerous “tobacco-free spaces” in front of Chambéry schools. A system which now extends to other public spaces, such as part of Verney Park since January 2025.
Protect and raise awareness among residents of school grounds in public spaces
Winner of two national calls for projects from the Interministerial Mission to Combat Drugs and Addictive Behaviors (MILDECA) in 2019 and 2023, the City of Chambéry was able to implement an ambitious municipal plan to combat addictions and addictive behaviors. at risk. Among the actions of this municipal plan, is the establishment of “tobacco-free spaces”, an initiative launched since 2023. This labeling proposed by the National League Against Cancer makes it possible to define a perimeter in which smoking is prohibited. This is why, to date, 42 tobacco-free spaces have been set up in front of all of the town’s public and private schools.
In 2025 this system aimed at improving the health of residents begins to be deployed in other public spaces, notably in the heart of Verney Park. Located around the metal elephant sculpture in a place where different types of audiences and uses come together, this new “Tobacco-free space” aims to raise awareness among a greater diversity of residents and users. Its inauguration took place on Tuesday January 7, 2025, in the presence of municipal elected officials and the League Against Cancer. In the future, other spaces should emerge in front of places welcoming young people, notably municipal crèches.
What is the purpose of a tobacco-free space?
- Prevent passive smoking situations
It is not only smokers who suffer the harms of tobacco: establishing tobacco-free zones, particularly near places dedicated to children, helps reduce exposure to passive smoking. The latter is responsible for nearly 1,100 deaths each year. - Reduce the initiation of smoking among young people
Seeing people smoking makes the act commonplace, from a very young age: banning smoking in public places is a recommended strategy to prevent young people from starting smoking. Remember that 200,000 minors start smoking each year. - Promoting smoking cessation for smokers
Smoking is the most important preventable risk factor for cancer. A tobacco-free space contributes to the fight against this addiction, a real public health issue, by limiting the possibilities of smoking which can also encourage smokers to quit smoking. In France, 75,000 deaths are attributable to smoking, including 45,000 from cancer. - Preserve the environment
A cigarette butt contains thousands of chemicals and takes more than 10 years to degrade in nature. Not limited to polluting the air, cigarettes that have become butts represent a real problem for the environment when thrown on the ground (pollution of soils and water tables and waterways). 30 billion cigarette butts, or between 20,000 and 25,000 tonnes, are thrown into the streets of France each year.
*Figures from the League Against Cancer
Health
