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Tightening of public smoking bans, particularly in efforts aimed at protecting children, as planned by France as of 1 July, is not a good idea. It will only push smoking into private spaces, such as homes, where children are even more exposed. This is shown by a study done by RFBerlin researcher Jérôme Adda. He measured this effect in the US using saliva samples to assess children’s exposure to tobacco smoke. A more effective way to protect non-smokers - especially children - from passive smoking is through significantly higher tobacco taxes.
Berlin, 24 June 2025 – The RFBerlin (ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin) researcher Jérôme Adda has voiced doubts about the tightening of public smoking bans, particularly in efforts aimed at protecting children. This is planned by France from 1 July on, based on a recommendation by the EU commission in November. “The intention is good,” said Adda on Tuesday. “But it will only push smoking into private spaces, such as homes, where children are even more exposed.”
Adda’s research, published in the prestigious American Economic Journal, analyzed the effects of similar bans in the United States. After public smoking restrictions were introduced, adults increasingly smoked in private settings like homes and cars. This led to more exposure to secondhand smoke among children. Adda measured this effect using saliva samples to assess children’s exposure to tobacco smoke.
“A more effective way to protect non-smokers - especially children - from passive smoking is through significantly higher tobacco taxes,” says Adda. “Price increases lead to substantial reductions in children's exposure to tobacco smoke, whereas public smoking bans can inadvertently increase it.”
Jérôme Adda is Research Director at the ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin Institute for the Economy and the Future of Work (RFBerlin) and Professor of Economics at Bocconi University in Milan.
English, French, and Swedish: Jérôme Adda, 0039/ 345 10 12 27 77 jad@rfberlin.com
‘The Effect of Bans and Taxes on Passive Smoking’, by Jérôme Adda and Francesca Cornaglia; in: American Economic Journal: Applied Economics 2010, 2:1, 1-32; published here: https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/app.2.1.1
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