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Tobacco Tax Increases: A Discourse Analysis of the French Print and Web News Media from 2000 to 2020

Author

Listed:
  • Diane Geindreau

    (CNRS, Inserm, Arènes—UMR 6051, RSMS—U 1309, EHESP, Université de Rennes, 35000 Rennes, France)

  • Morgane Guillou-Landréat

    (Addictive Disorders Department, EA SPURBO, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, 29238 Brest, France)

  • Karine Gallopel-Morvan

    (CNRS, Inserm, Arènes—UMR 6051, RSMS—U 1309, EHESP, Université de Rennes, 35000 Rennes, France)

Abstract

Lobbying led by the tobacco industry and tobacconists is a barrier to reducing smoking prevalence in France. Here, we analyze the discourse of the tobacco industry and other key actors (public health agencies, politicians, etc.) in the French general-audience news media from 2000 to 2020 around tobacco tax increases, which is one of the most effective tobacco control measures, especially amongst youth. We queried Europresse (a European news media and specialized press database) using the keywords “increase”, “price or taxes”, and “tobacco or cigarettes”, and found 5409 topic-relevant articles, from which we extracted 8015 arguments for or against the measure. In total,64.3% were against the measure (mostly on grounds of “ufueling the black market”), 32.1% were for the measure (mostly claiming it is “effective at reducing smoking prevalence”), and 1.8% proposed alternative measures. Tobacconists, the primary source of media content on the topic, led a discourse that was strongly opposed to tax increases. Public health agencies, which attracted only half as much media attention, were strongly supportive of the measure. Analysis of discourses relayed in the French general-audience press revealed overwhelming opposition to tobacco tax increases, and this discourse was widely advanced by tobacconists. The results were congruent with international literature that had highlighted a similar set of arguments to those found in the French general press that were broadcasted by the tobacco industry and its allies (tobacconists in France) in an effort to block this evidence-based public health measure.

Suggested Citation

  • Diane Geindreau & Morgane Guillou-Landréat & Karine Gallopel-Morvan, 2022. "Tobacco Tax Increases: A Discourse Analysis of the French Print and Web News Media from 2000 to 2020," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-15, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:22:p:15152-:d:975220
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ruben Sanchez-Sabate & Esteban Zunino & Yasna Badilla-Briones & Natalia Celedon Celis & Daniel Caro Saldías, 2021. "Chilean Digital Press Coverage of the Relation between Diet and Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-18, February.
    2. Otañez, M.G. & Mamudu, H.M. & Glantz, S.A., 2009. "Tobacco companies' use of developing countries' economic reliance on tobacco to lobby against global tobacco control: The case of Malawi," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 99(10), pages 1759-1771.
    3. Selda Ulucanlar & Gary J Fooks & Anna B Gilmore, 2016. "The Policy Dystopia Model: An Interpretive Analysis of Tobacco Industry Political Activity," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(9), pages 1-21, September.
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