Public spaces in France are now smoke-free due to a new regulation.
Beginning July 1, 2025, France will enforce a smoking ban in public places, including parks, bus stops, beaches, public gardens, sports facilities, and areas surrounding schools. The ban aims to safeguard children and young people from tobacco smoke exposure. Violators of this ban may face fines of up to €135.
The ban does not extend to the outdoor seating areas of restaurants or e-cigarettes. However, Health Minister Catherine Vautrin has stated intentions to regulate the nicotine content and allowable flavors in e-cigarettes.
In an interview with "Ouest-France," Vautrin emphasized that cigarettes should no longer be present in locations where children are present. She equated the freedom to smoke with the right to clean air for children, signifying a shift in government focus on protecting non-smokers.
France, with approximately 75,000 annual smoking-related deaths, has historically been liberal on smoking regulations. Since the prohibition of smoking in restaurants and clubs in 2008, the government has continued to implement incremental smoking bans and incrementally increase the price of cigarettes.
Source: ntv.de, lme/AFP
- In alignment with France's commitment to health-and-wellness, the Community policy enacted by July 1, 2025, is expected to expand to regulate the nicotine content and allowed flavors in e-cigarettes, similar to the policy-and-legislation for cigarettes.
- The government's recent pronouncement on a smoking ban in public places, also known as the employment policy, signifies a significant shift in French politics, favoring a cleaner environment, especially for children, over the freedom to smoke.
- As science continues to uncover the dangers of tobacco, the French government has demonstrated an increased focus on health-and-wellness through various policies, including the ban on smoking in parks and schools, reflecting a broader shift in general-news concerning public health.
