Alliance Against Tobacco

Contre-Feu, l'Alliance contre l'industrie du tabac — formerly known as the Alliance contre le tabac (ACT) — is a French non-profit federation of organisations and individuals engaged in tobacco control. Created in 1991 in the wake of the Évin law, which restricted tobacco advertising and smoking in public places in France, the Alliance was set up as an association loi de 1901 to coordinate advocacy against the tobacco industry. In 2025 it rebranded as Contre-Feu, l'Alliance contre l'industrie du tabac, signalling a more confrontational stance toward the industry itself rather than only toward tobacco consumption. The organisation describes itself as a federation of committed actors united in a single fight: to counter the tobacco lobby. Its stated mission is to combat an industry that profits from nicotine addiction, and it frames tobacco control as a societal battle rather than a purely public-health one. It highlights the industry's harms not only to health but also to the environment and society at large. A central objective is to bring about a tobacco-free generation by 2032. Contre-Feu's advocacy work includes public campaigns, fact-based communication exposing tobacco-industry manipulation, and direct engagement with policymakers. One flagship campaign is the proposed "Génération sans tabac" law, which would end the sale of tobacco to people born after 2014. The organisation urges citizens to contact their members of parliament to gather signatures for a parliamentary debate. On World No Tobacco Day in 2026, Contre-Feu and 25 public-health and environmental associations published an op-ed in La Croix calling on the French government to adopt the bill urgently. The Alliance participates in the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), signed and ratified by France in 2004. It coordinates joint associative advocacy across French territory, for example to protect the population from second-hand smoke and tobacco advertising, and works with international partners, encouraging cooperation with francophone countries. Its bureau has been led by Professor Loïc Josseran as president since 2017, with vice-president Christiane Pochulu, secretary-general Professor Bertrand Dautzenberg, deputy secretary-general Pascal Diethelm, treasurer Professor Michel-Henri Delcroix and deputy treasurer Mathiam Mbengue. As a non-profit association, Contre-Feu is not a commercial brand in the conventional sense, but it operates as a recognised organisational brand in French public health advocacy. It is registered in the French SIREN and Répertoire national des associations, and appears in the EU Transparency Register.

The Alliance contre le tabac (ACT) was created in 1991, following the promulgation of the Évin law in France. The Évin law, adopted in 1991, imposed strict restrictions on tobacco advertising and smoking in public places, and the Alliance was formed as a federation of actors to support and extend tobacco-control efforts. It was established as an association loi de 1901, the standard legal form for non-profit associations in France. From its foundation, the Alliance brought together around twenty member organisations and personalities engaged in the fight against smoking. Its missions included participating in the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which France signed and ratified in 2004, and coordinating joint associative advocacy across French territory — for example, to protect the population from second-hand smoke and tobacco advertising. While some missions were carried out jointly with its members, the Alliance also worked closely with international partners and encouraged greater cooperation with francophone countries. In 2025, the organisation renamed itself Contre-Feu, l'Alliance contre l'industrie du tabac. The new name and identity reflect a shift in emphasis: rather than focusing solely on tobacco consumption and smokers, the Alliance positions itself explicitly against the tobacco industry, which it describes as a deadly industry profiting from nicotine addiction. The rebranding was accompanied by a new website (contre-feu.org) and a more confrontational communications strategy. Under its new identity, Contre-Feu has pursued a flagship legislative campaign: the "Génération sans tabac" (Tobacco-Free Generation) bill, which aims to end the sale of tobacco to people born after 2014. The campaign encourages citizens to contact their deputies to gather at least 100 signatures needed to obtain a parliamentary debate. On 28 May 2026, World No Tobacco Day, Contre-Feu and 25 associations published an op-ed in La Croix calling on the government to adopt the bill urgently, citing the UK's recent adoption of a similar bill banning tobacco sales to people born after 1 January 2009. The Alliance also runs communications exposing tobacco-industry marketing practices, such as the use of pop-culture references on e-cigarette packaging to appeal to young people. The bureau of the Alliance has been led by Professor Loïc Josseran as president since 2017. Other bureau members include vice-president Christiane Pochulu (Santé respiratoire France), secretary-general Professor Bertrand Dautzenberg (Paris sans tabac), deputy secretary-general Pascal Diethelm (Comité national contre le tabagisme), treasurer Professor Michel-Henri Delcroix (APPRI) and deputy treasurer Mathiam Mbengue (Grand Est sans tabac).

• 2026

  On World No Tobacco Day, Contre-Feu and 25 associations call on the government to adopt the Génération sans tabac bill.

• 2025

  The association renames itself Contre-Feu, l'Alliance contre l'industrie du tabac.

• 2017

  Professor Loïc Josseran becomes president of the Alliance.

• 2004

  France signs and ratifies the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control; the Alliance participates in its implementation.

• 1991

  Alliance contre le tabac founded as a federation of tobacco-control actors following the Évin law.

A federation of French tobacco-control actors advocating for a tobacco-free generation and confronting the tobacco industry.

Product categories. Public health advocacy campaigns · Policy proposals (e.g. Génération sans tabac bill) · Awareness communications

1. 1Contre-Feu, l'alliance contre l'industrie du tabaccontre-feu.org
2. 2Contre-Feu et 25 assos appellent à une génération sans tabaccontre-feu.org
3. 3Alliance Against Tobacco - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Alliance contre le tabac - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org