The former Minister of Social Affairs and Solidarity believes that there are “still efforts to be made” to regulate the consumption of cigarettes and alcohol.
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Thirty years after the creation of the law of which he was the author, Claude Évin welcomes the fact of no longer being able to smoke inside a train or a restaurant. But the former Minister of Social Affairs and Solidarity would like to see the legislation evolve, because a “law can’t change everything”he says on franceinfo Tuesday, November 1.
The ban on smoking in public places, introduced in November 1992, “worked quite well”observes Claude Évin, “especially since a decree of 2006”. But the minister and former director of the Regional Health Agency (ARS) Ile-de-France declares that there is “still work to do”. Notably “in the terraces of cafes or restaurants that are closed” framed by glass walls. “Just because it’s transparent doesn’t mean it’s possible to smoke.”
Should we therefore crack down or at least adapt the legislation? “Yes”, replies Claude Évin. The former minister takes the example of films or TV series “where the fact of smoking is not essential with regard to the scenario”. Claude Évin also points to the danger of more recent media, such as social networks, where “spectators are insufficiently protected”.
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Faced with alcoholism, Claude Évin paints a rather negative picture, given that the law has “undergone a number of modifications since 1991”. And not in a good way! “I had completely banned advertising outside the production areas. Today, we have advertising in favor of alcohol which is on all our walls, even if there is a recommendation to consume with moderation”.