From today, Sunday, June 30, smoking is now banned in public parks and beaches across France. The law also forbids smoking around schools, libraries, pools, and bus stops.
The government says the new rule is meant to reduce second-hand smoke, especially for children and families.
The ban came into effect a day after it was published in the official journal. It was originally expected to begin Tuesday.
Health officials rushed the rollout to protect children during the summer holidays when many families head outdoors.
Fines for Offenders, But E-Cigs Still Allowed
Offenders face a fine of €135, which may rise to €700 for repeat violations. A short grace period is expected as the public adjusts.
But the ban does not apply to outdoor café terraces. Nor does it cover e-cigarettes.
Both exemptions have angered health experts who say the measure falls short of its goals.
“Children go to terraces too,” said Yves Martinet, head of the National Committee Against Smoking. “There should be no tobacco or nicotine use in public places.”
Flavoured vapes, popular among teenagers, remain legal in public outdoor settings.
Government Eyes Tobacco-Free Generation
Health and Family Minister Catherine Vautrin described the new law as “a step toward a tobacco-free generation by 2032.”
She added: “Beaches, schools, parks — these are places to breathe, learn, and play, not to inhale cigarette smoke.”
Authorities are preparing to install signs showing no-smoking zones and will soon confirm how far smokers must stay from protected areas.
For now, the distance is said to be 10 metres from sensitive locations.
Café Terraces Remain a Smoking Refuge
Hospitality groups oppose extending the ban to terraces. Some argue that terraces offer one of the last shared spaces where smokers and non-smokers can mingle.
“Terraces are the last places of conviviality and freedom,” said Franck Trouet, a hospitality group spokesman.
Frank Delvau of UMIH in Paris warned that if smoking is banned there too, “people will just move to the sidewalks.”
Despite these concerns, the public appears to support stronger restrictions.
A recent poll shows 62% of French people are in favour of wider smoking bans in public spaces.
Smoking Rates Down, But Risks Remain
France loses about 75,000 people annually to smoking-related illnesses. Another 3,000 to 5,000 die from passive smoking.
The total cost — from healthcare to lost productivity — is around €156 billion each year.
While fewer than one in four French adults smoked daily in 2023, health authorities are not satisfied.
Campaigners say laws must go further if France truly wants to shield its youth from tobacco’s deadly grip.
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