France will implement a nationwide ban on smoking in all outdoor spaces accessible to children, including beaches, parks, public gardens, bus stops, and areas outside schools, starting July 1.
Health and Family Minister Catherine Vautrin announced the new measure, emphasizing that “tobacco must disappear where there are children” and that the right to smoke ends where children’s right to clean air begins.
The ban will also apply to sports venues and aims to further protect minors from exposure to tobacco smoke. Offenders will face fines of up to €135.
However, the restriction will not extend to France’s iconic cafe terraces or to electronic cigarettes, which are not covered by the new law.
France already prohibits smoking in workplaces, airports, train stations, and playgrounds. The country has one of the highest smoking rates in Europe, with an estimated 35 percent of the population identified as smokers. Anti-smoking groups have long advocated for broader restrictions to protect public health, especially among children.
