France Implements Smoking Ban at Outdoor Areas for Children's Health

Starting 1 July, smoking will be banned in areas often frequented by minors, reflecting an increasing focus on public health and children's rights.

France is stepping up efforts to safeguard children's health with a sweeping ban on smoking in outdoor venues where children congregate, as announced by health and family minister Catherine Vautrin. Set to be effective from 1 July, the prohibition will encompass beaches, parks, public gardens, school surroundings, bus stops, and sports facilities. "Tobacco must disappear where there are children," asserted Vautrin in an interview with Ouest-France. Emphasizing the importance of children's rights to clean air, she stated, "the freedom to smoke must end where the freedom of children to breathe fresh air begins."

While outdoor cafes and bar terraces will remain exempt from the ban, offenders can expect fines of €135 (£113; $153). Vautrin indicated a dual approach to enforcement involving regular police and community self-regulation. Although electronic cigarettes will not be penalized under this new ruling, plans to limit nicotine levels in these products are currently underway.

Recent statistics show a significant lowering of daily smokers in France to 23.1%, the lowest level ever recorded, reflecting a decrease of over five points since 2014. Meanwhile, the French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction reports that tobacco-related illnesses claim over 75,000 lives annually, making up 13% of all deaths in the country.

Smoking in indoor establishments such as restaurants and nightclubs has been outlawed since 2008. While comprehensive regulations to ban smoking in public spaces were expected in 2024, pending decrees delayed those plans. Nevertheless, more than 1,500 municipalities have already chosen to enact smoking bans voluntarily, with a significant number of beaches remaining smoke-free for several years. Additionally, a survey by La Ligue Contre le Cancer indicates nearly 80% of the French population supports prohibiting smoking in parks, beaches, and public spaces.