Up to 150 euros fine to fight against this “national scourge”: this major French city bans “laughing gas” cartridges

Friday 29th November 2024 11:05 AM

The City of Lyon announced on Friday that it would ban “the sale, possession and use of nitrous oxide gas cartridges in public spaces”, denouncing a “national scourge” when used for recreational purposes like “laughing gas”, mainly by adolescents and young adults.

“Through this measure, our priority remains to protect health and ensure safety” of all, explains Mohamed Chihi, environmentalist deputy mayor, security delegate and signatory of the municipal decree, quoted in a press release. Qualifying the misused use of this gas as a “national scourge”the deputy calls for “strong mobilization of the State on this issue”.

Nitrous oxide is classified among the “poisonous substances”. In France, the government has banned its sale to minors and restricted the quantities on sale. In the United Kingdom or the Netherlands, the sale and use has been restricted or prohibited.

Up to 150 euros fine

Used in cooking for Chantilly siphons and in medicine as an analgesic, its misuse has made it popular with young people. Its instant effect, an irresistible laugh, gave it the nickname “laughing gas”.

“Its consumption can have serious consequences on health and in particular cause neurological disorders, or even hematological or psychiatric complications,” recalls the city of Lyon. In 2023, the metropolitan services collected more than 7 tonnes of empty nitrous oxide gas cylinders in Lyon, and 25 tonnes throughout the metropolis.

In parallel with this decree, the city “is committed to strengthening its actions in terms of addiction prevention” and risk reduction, in particular with a teleconsultation system created by the Hospices Civils de Lyon.

Infringements will be punishable by a fine of 150 euros maximum. Other cities have already issued orders to the same effect. In Montpellier, for example, the sale and consumption of nitrous oxide is punishable by a fine of 68 to 450 euros. In the metropolis of Lyon, cities like Vénissieux (PCF) or Mions (LR) also sanction the possession, use or sale of these nitrous oxide cartridges.