France is set to implement a new smoking ban in all outdoor public spaces where children are likely to be present, including beaches, parks, bus stops, and school surroundings, Health and Family Minister Catherine Vautrin announced on Thursday, May 29.
This latest move is part of France’s ongoing efforts to tighten tobacco regulations and protect public health. The new law, effective from July 1, aims to safeguard children’s right to breathe clean air.
“Tobacco must disappear where children are,” Vautrin said in an interview with regional newspaper Ouest-France. “The freedom to smoke ends where children’s right to clean air begins.”
The ban covers a broad range of locations where children gather: beaches, parks, public gardens, school perimeters, bus stops, and sports venues. It will also prohibit smoking in front of schools to discourage students from lighting up on the spot.
Those caught violating the ban risk fines of up to €135 ($154).
However, the ban will not apply to France’s iconic café terraces, and electronic cigarettes, which have surged in popularity, remain excluded from the restrictions.
France has already prohibited smoking in many indoor public spaces, such as workplaces, airports, train stations, and playgrounds. Anti-smoking advocates had been pushing for a wider ban to extend these protections outdoors.
Currently, about 35 percent of the French population smokes—significantly higher than the European average of 25 percent and the global average of 21 percent, according to the World Health Organization.
