A detailed snapshot of teenage habits in Monaco suggests that the Principality remains one of Europe’s most resilient environments when it comes to youth addictions, despite a few areas that warrant continued attention…
A supplementary report published by the Monegasque Institute of Statistics (IMSEE), based on the ESPAD 2024 European survey, focuses specifically on all 16-year-old high school students in Monaco, a benchmark age group across the continent.
As reported by Monaco Matin, this unique study benefits from Monaco’s small size, allowing researchers to survey the entire population of students of that age rather than relying on samples. The result is a precise and reliable overview of behaviours linked to tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, screens and gambling, with comparisons drawn against European averages.
Overall, Monaco performs well. Only 26% of 16-year-olds report having ever smoked a cigarette, well below the European average, while daily smoking stands at just 1.9%, placing the Principality among the least affected countries in Europe. Cannabis use is also slightly lower than the continental norm and has declined significantly compared with 2019.
Alcohol presents a more nuanced picture. While 76.1% of students say they have consumed alcohol at least once—slightly above the European average—risky behaviours remain rare. Heavy episodic drinking over the past month concerns just 2.9% of respondents, far below levels seen elsewhere in Europe.
The report also highlights relatively low exposure to gambling, problematic gaming and excessive social media use. However, it points to the growing popularity of electronic cigarettes, now tried by nearly half of students, sometimes independently of traditional tobacco use. A reminder, the authors note, that prevention efforts must continue to evolve alongside changing habits.
Photo by Reza Mehrad
