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France has officially banned smoking in public parks and on beaches from Sunday, as part of a new initiative to reduce passive smoke exposure, especially among children. The legislation, which also covers areas near schools, libraries, swimming pools and bus shelters, was enacted a day after being published in the government’s official journal.
The move comes just ahead of the school holidays, with authorities aiming to ensure children are not exposed to cigarette smoke while on holiday or at play. However, the ban does not extend to outdoor café terraces — a decision that has disappointed some anti-smoking campaigners.
Additionally, the new rules do not apply to electronic cigarettes, sparking further criticism from health advocates.
Initially expected to take effect on Tuesday, the ban was brought forward due to its immediate publication in the government’s gazette.
Smoking will now be prohibited within 10 metres of child-sensitive areas such as schools, pools, and libraries. The health ministry has said it will soon confirm the exact distance requirements and unveil official signage to indicate smoke-free zones.
Offenders could be fined up to €135, with repeat penalties reaching as high as €700. Nonetheless, a short grace period is expected while the rules are introduced to the public.
“Beaches, schools, parks — these are places to breathe, learn, and play, not to inhale cigarette smoke,” said Health and Family Minister Catherine Vautrin. She described the measure as a further step towards France’s ambition of creating a “tobacco-free generation” by 2032.
Despite welcoming the initiative, public health experts argue that the measure doesn’t go far enough.
Yves Martinet, president of France’s National Committee Against Smoking (CNCT), said allowing smoking on bar terraces undermines the policy’s objective. “Children go to terraces too,” he pointed out, and criticised the omission of e-cigarettes, particularly given their appeal to young people through flavoured products.
“For such a measure to truly work, it must be unambiguous — there should be no tobacco or nicotine consumption in public spaces,” Martinet argued.
However, representatives of France’s hospitality sector have warned against banning smoking on terraces. Frank Delvau of the Paris branch of the hotel and catering union UMIH claimed that such a move would simply displace smokers onto nearby streets.
Franck Trouet, speaking on behalf of another hospitality group, described terraces as “the last places of conviviality and freedom,” insisting that smokers and non-smokers can co-exist in those spaces.
Smoking remains a significant public health issue in France, causing an estimated 75,000 deaths annually and costing the nation around €156 billion each year when factoring in healthcare, lost productivity, and enforcement costs. While daily smoking rates have reached their lowest levels since 2000 — with under a quarter of adults aged 18 to 75 smoking daily in 2023 — passive smoking still causes between 3,000 and 5,000 deaths each year.
Public opinion appears largely supportive, with 62 percent of French citizens backing a broader smoking ban in public spaces, according to a recent poll.
