Two new tobacco-free spaces were inaugurated on Tuesday in Creuse. They find themselves in front of the nursery and primary schools of Saint-Sulpice-le-Guérétois and extend over approximately one hectare. This approach, initiated in Guéret a year ago, is supported by the Ligue contre le cancer. The goal: to encourage the inhabitants of Creus to extinguish their cigarette near schools, when it is responsible for 75,000 deaths per year in France, according to Public Health France.
Since the signs “Tobacco-free spaces“were installed several months ago in the town, some parents changed their behavior. “We see it, assures Virginie, mother of two children. Now people smoke either in the parking lot or before the no-smoking zone“.”It is true that before, I threw my butts on the ground, but now, I no longer do“adds Lilly, who regularly picks up her niece from elementary school.
An incentive
In the event of non-compliance with the instructions, nobody risks a fine, since the device is “incentive“, says Eric Bodeau, the mayor of Saint-Sulpice-le-Guérétois.”If we notice that a person smokes, we will kindly explain to him that we are in a tobacco-free, educational space, designed so that children do not have this image that encourages them to pass to the state of smoker.“, continues the elected.
Make smoking abnormal, that’s the idea behind smoke-free zones. And if the goal is to keep children as far as possible from smoke, these spaces can also push parents to quit smoking : “It allows the adult to begin to think about the fact that finally smoking is not that good., indicates Catherine Chata, member of the League against cancer. We put our phone numbers on our signs, so they know we can help them if they feel like quitting.“
In Creuse, eight towns have set up tobacco-free zones.