France enforces a nationwide smoking ban in public child zones
The French are eager to safeguard children from the harms of tobacco. Consequently, from 1 July, there will be a ban on smoking in parks, on beaches, at bus stops, on sports grounds, and in front of schools. "Tobacco must disappear where there are children," said Health Minister Catherine Vautrin in an interview published by the regional newspaper Ouest-France.
France is set to introduce a ban on smoking in public outdoor areas where children may be present. This includes beaches, parks, and bus stops. The prohibition will also extend to the vicinity of schools to deter students from smoking during breaks.
The ban does not apply to café terraces and excludes electronic cigarettes.
The new regulations were unveiled on Thursday evening by Health Minister Catherine Vautrin. "Tobacco must disappear where there are children," Vautrin emphasised in an interview published by the regional newspaper Ouest-France.
Such restrictions are already in place in some municipalities, but from 1 July, they will apply nationwide. It's worth bearing this in mind when planning a trip to France for the holidays.
This ban will affect smokers: high fines
According to France Info, the financial penalties will be stringent. It has been reported that each offender will be subject to a fourth-category fine and pay approximately £ 115, which is equivalent to 135 euros.
Smoking statistics in France currently show a downward trend. In 2023, 15.6% of young people under the age of 17 smoked daily. The number of smokers within this age group has halved over the past decade, the minister highlighted.
However, "every year, one-tenth of deaths are related to tobacco," she noted. "Smoking kills 75,000 people in France annually—over 200 deaths a day. It is the leading preventable cause of death," she emphasised.
Lung cancers result in immense human suffering. While life holds immeasurable value, cancer treatments place a heavy financial burden, amounting to 150 billion euros each year, which poses a serious challenge to the sustainability of our social system, Vautrin noted.
She also announced her goal for children born in France in 2025, "a generation free from tobacco by 2032."
"The freedom of stops where children's right to breathe clean air starts," Vautrin added.
