In a groundbreaking move, France is set to outlaw smoking in outdoor areas where children frequently gather. The ban includes beaches, parks, public gardens, school zones, bus stops, and sports venues, with the effective date slated for July 1. Minister Catherine Vautrin emphasized the need to prioritize children’s health, stating, "Tobacco must disappear where there are children," during an interview with Ouest-France daily.
While outdoor cafés and bars known as terrasses will be exempt from this prohibition, violators of the new law will face a fine of €135. Vautrin expressed her confidence in both police enforcement and community self-regulation to ensure compliance. Although electronic cigarettes will remain unaffected by the ban, she is seeking to impose stricter nicotine limits on these products.
Citing statistics from the French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, Vautrin noted that daily smoking rates in France have dropped to 23.1%, the lowest level recorded, reflecting a significant decrease of over five points since 2014. Despite this progress, the National Committee Against Smoking reported over 75,000 annual deaths linked to tobacco-related illnesses, accounting for 13% of total deaths in the country.
The country has seen a gradual shift in attitudes toward smoking in public spaces; smoking has been prohibited in establishments such as restaurants and nightclubs since 2008. Although comprehensive measures were initially proposed to enforce smoking restrictions in 2024, past legislative efforts did not materialize. Currently, more than 1,500 municipalities have voluntarily enacted smoking bans in public areas, with dozens of beaches across the nation having adopted non-smoking regulations for several years. Public sentiment is shifting, with nearly 80% of the French populace supporting comprehensive smoking bans in parks, beaches, and other public spaces according to a recent report by La Ligue Contre le Cancer.
