---
title: "Banned advertising: what France stopped allowing"
description: "From the Évin law (1991) to the ban on fossil-fuel advertising (2022): an overview of advertising banned or restricted in France, and why."
url: "https://publicitefrance.com/en/avant-apres/publicites-interdites-histoire/"
lang: en
translated_from: "https://publicitefrance.com/avant-apres/publicites-interdites-histoire/"
category: "Before/After"
publisher: "PubliCité France"
updated: "2026-08-02"
alternate_fr_md: "https://publicitefrance.com/avant-apres/publicites-interdites-histoire.md"
keywords: ["banned advertising", "Évin law", "tobacco advertising ban", "alcohol advertising", "fossil fuel advertising ban"]
disclaimer: "Informational content, not legal advice."
sources:
  - "https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000000344577"
  - "https://addictions-france.org/actualites/30-ans-de-loi-evin-une-loi-fondatrice-dans-la-lutte-contre-le-tabagisme-et-lalcoolisme-2116/"
  - "https://www.vie-publique.fr/consultations/284069-projet-decret-interdiction-publicite-energies-fossiles-loi-climat"
---

# Banned advertising: what France stopped allowing

**In short:** over the decades, France has removed certain products from the advertising field — first for health (the Évin law, 1991: tobacco banned, alcohol restricted), then for the environment (the Climate law: fossil-fuel advertising banned since 25 August 2022). *Informational content, not legal advice.*

## The founding shift: the Évin law (1991)
The **Évin law** (law no. 91-32 of **10 January 1991**), on the fight against smoking and alcoholism:
- **Tobacco: near-total advertising ban** (posters, spots, sponsorships).
- **Alcohol: heavily restricted advertising** — allowed on certain media, but strictly limited in content and placement, notably to protect young audiences.

The logic: public health takes precedence over commercial freedom. For outdoor advertising, heavily exposed to "pleasure" products, it was a lasting earthquake.

## The new frontier: climate (2022)
Thirty years later, a new rationale emerged — the environment. The **Climate and Resilience law** (law no. 2021-1104 of **22 August 2021**) introduced a ban on advertising for **fossil fuels**, effective **25 August 2022**. The parallel with tobacco is striking: a product long normalised by advertising becomes impossible to promote freely, in the name of the collective interest. Add to this the tightening scrutiny of **greenwashing** (misleading environmental claims).

## Before / After: what advertising could show

| | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Tobacco | Posters and spots everywhere | Advertising near-banned |
| Alcohol | Few safeguards | Content and media strictly limited |
| Fossil fuels | Promoted without restriction | Advertising banned (2022) |
| "Green" claims | Loosely policed | Under heightened scrutiny |

The direction is clear: what society deems harmful (health yesterday, climate today) gradually leaves the advertising field.

## What it teaches advertisers in 2026
- **Know your framework**: rules vary sharply by sector (health, alcohol, energy, finance, food).
- **Anticipate the direction of history**: health, then environment — the next frontier is predictable.
- **Avoid greenwashing**: an environmental claim must be provable.
- **When in doubt, get advice** from a specialised legal professional.

## FAQ
**What does the Évin law ban?**
The law of 10 January 1991 bans almost all tobacco advertising and strictly restricts alcohol advertising (limited content and media), in the name of public health.

**Is fossil-fuel advertising banned in France?**
Yes: the Climate and Resilience law of 22 August 2021 bans it, effective 25 August 2022.

**Can you advertise alcohol in France?**
Yes, but under strict conditions (limited media and content). It is not a total ban like tobacco.

## Sources
- Légifrance — law no. 91-32 of 10 January 1991 (Évin law): https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000000344577
- Addictions France — 30 years of the Évin law: https://addictions-france.org/actualites/30-ans-de-loi-evin-une-loi-fondatrice-dans-la-lutte-contre-le-tabagisme-et-lalcoolisme-2116/
- Vie-publique — fossil-fuel advertising / Climate law: https://www.vie-publique.fr/consultations/284069-projet-decret-interdiction-publicite-energies-fossiles-loi-climat

---
*PubliCité France — Before/After section. Informational content, not legal advice; verify the current law at the date of reading. French version: /avant-apres/publicites-interdites-histoire/*