Since the early 1990s, numerous legislative and regulatory measures have been implemented to strengthen efforts to combat smoking, particularly among young people: sharp and repeated price increases between January 2002 and January 2004, a ban on sales to those under 16 in 2004 and then to those under 18 since May 2010, the addition of new health warnings on cigarette packs, and a total ban on smoking in schools. Early experimentation remains a major risk factor for the development of long-term smoking habits and addiction. Delaying the age of initiation remains a major public health objective today. The other major challenge in the fight against smoking lies in raising awareness of the risks involved. The delayed onset of the initial health consequences of smoking explains why warnings and prevention messages are relatively ineffective among young people. [article excerpt]