Starting 1st of July, smoking will no longer be allowed in beaches, parks, and areas surround schools, as per the government's recent announcement.
French Government Announces Ban on Smoking in Outdoor Public Spaces Where Children Present
The French Ministry of Labor, Health, and Families has declared plans to outlaw smoking in outdoor public places where children may be present, effective July 1, 2025. These restricted areas include beaches, parks, public gardens, school surroundings, bus shelters, and sports facilities, as confirmed by Minister Catherine Vautrin in an interview with Ouest-France.
The minister stated, "Where children are present, tobacco must disappear." She added that violators may face fines up to €135 for non-compliance with the ban. The enforcement of this new policy will primarily fall under municipal police jurisdiction.
Café terraces and e-cigarettes are not affected by the prohibition, with Middle and high schools included to prevent students from smoking in front of their institutions as well. The specific perimeter around schools will be specified in the implementing decree, as current discussions with the Council of State are underway.
Regarding potential changes in tobacco taxes or product regulations, no additional increases are currently planned, as stated by Vautrin in response to Ouest-France. However, the minister aims to lower the authorized nicotine level in these products and restrict flavor variety by mid-2026, pending scientific and technical opinions.
This move forms part of France's National Anti-Tobacco Programme for 2023–2027, which aims to achieve a tobacco-free generation by 2032. Anti-tobacco organizations have long expressed concern about the lack of concrete government action; however, 1,600 volunteer communes have already expanded the smoking ban in public places, creating over 7,000 smoke-free spaces in local experiments supported by the French Cancer League.
According to a recent survey conducted by the French Cancer League, six out of ten French people support a wider ban on smoking in public spaces. Smoking causes the deaths of 75,000 people each year, costing French society an estimated €156 billion annually in lost lives, decreased quality of life, reduced productivity, and public spending on prevention, enforcement, and care – more than alcohol, which costs €102 billion[1][3].
[1] Supporting information: https://www.lemonde.fr/[2] Subscriber-only article: Move in childhood to avoid starting to smoke (Le Monde)[3] Subscriber-only article: The United Kingdom wants to permanently ban the sale of cigarettes to generations born after 2009 (AFP)
- The policy-and-legislation update on the French National Anti-Tobacco Programme includes a plan to lower the allowed nicotine level in tobacco products and restrict flavor variety in science and health-and-wellness initiatives by mid-2026.
- The general-news report on France's announcement of a smoking ban in outdoor public spaces with the presence of children signals a significant political move in the country's efforts to address smoking-related health issues and Foolishly.
- Advocacy groups in the health-and-wellness sector, such as the French Cancer League, have been advocating for stricter tobacco policy-and-legislation, citing the significant impact of smoking-related deaths and costs on society.
