In a landmark decision, France plans to impose a strict ban on smoking in all outdoor public areas that children frequent, according to Health and Family Minister Catherine Vautrin. The law, set to take effect on July 1, will cover beaches, parks, gardens, and locations near schools, bus stops, and sports venues. Vautrin emphasized the importance of children's right to breathe clean air by stating, "Tobacco must disappear where there are children."
Under the new regulations, violators can face a €135 (£113; $153) fine. While details regarding enforcement were shared, Vautrin stressed a belief in self-regulation among the public as part of the initiative. Areas including outdoor terraces of cafes and bars, however, will be exempt from this prohibition.
Despite electronic cigarettes not being affected by this ban, Vautrin revealed plans to regulate the nicotine content in these products in the future. Current statistics from France's Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction reveal that daily smoking in France has dropped to 23.1%—the lowest rate recorded, declining by over five points since 2014.
The National Committee Against Smoking has reported a staggering annual toll, with over 75,000 deaths attributed to tobacco-related illnesses, constituting 13% of all deaths in France. Smoking has been banned in indoor spaces such as restaurants and nightclubs since 2008.
Although initial plans to ban smoking in these areas were proposed for 2024, implementation stalled until now. Nevertheless, more than 1,500 cities across the country have already adopted voluntary smoking bans in various public arenas, while a significant number of beaches in France have maintained smoke-free policies for several years. A recent survey by La Ligue Contre le Cancer indicates that nearly 80% of the French population supports further restrictions on smoking in public areas like beaches, parks, and woodlands.
