France begins its eleventh No Smoking Month

France’s eleventh Mois sans tabac begins on 1 November, inviting smokers to attempt 30 days without cigarettes. Santé publique France runs the campaign with the Health Ministry and Assurance Maladie. Registration remains open during the month, and the challenge ends on 30 November.

The programme offers a free cessation kit, the Tabac info service application and website, and telephone support from tobacco specialists on 39 89. Assurance Maladie also points participants towards pharmacists, doctors and other health professionals. The campaign is support for an attempt, not a guarantee of success or a substitute for individual medical advice.

Support rather than a promise

Santé publique France says 55 percent of daily smokers want to stop. Its campaign material reports that taking part doubles the probability of remaining smoke-free for one year compared with an unaided attempt, while reaching 30 days increases the likelihood of long-term cessation fivefold. These are population-level estimates, not predictions for an individual participant.

Independent stakeholder Addictions France estimates that 2.3 million quit attempts between 2016 and 2021 were linked to Mois sans tabac. The association also reported 117,500 registrations in 2025. Registration is useful for measuring engagement, but it does not equal completed cessation.

What earlier evaluations found

A published health and economic evaluation provides longer-term context. The Bulletin épidémiologique hebdomadaire attributed more than two million quit attempts to the campaign between 2016 and 2020 and found a positive return on investment in its model. The analysis sits alongside other tobacco-control measures, including prices, plain packaging and reimbursement for nicotine substitutes.

The collective format is deliberate. A fixed month gives participants a common start, visible reminders and access to other people making the same attempt. It can also help health professionals raise cessation during routine care. People who relapse can still use the support services and discuss another plan rather than treat one cigarette as the end of all progress.

A collective starting point

The most concrete story on opening day is access: the tools are available, the challenge has begun and professional support can be requested. Campaign effectiveness should be assessed from later participation and cessation data, not from promotional visibility alone.

Written for WHIF from the linked material. This article does not claim on-the-ground reporting. Our editorial standards.