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French Health Minister Catherine Vautrin announced on Thursday that a new smoking ban in outdoor public spaces where children are present will come into force from 1 July.
Speaking to French newspaper Ouest France, Vautin said, “wherever there are children, smoking must disappear”, adding that “a smoke-free generation is possible, and it starts now.”
A breach of the ban — which is part of France’s wider National Tobacco Control Programme, announced in November 2023 — could be punishable with a €135 fine.
In practice, smoking cigarettes will be outlawed in a range of public places — including beaches, parks, gardens, sports facilities, but also bus shelters and areas surrounding schools.
Although the ban will not apply to the terraces of cafes and bars, France’s health minister refused to rule out future similar bans in these spaces.
Under the plan, electronic cigarettes will still be permitted in these spaces, but Vautrin emphasised that the government wanted to “lower the permitted nicotine content” in these devices, as well as reduce the variety of flavours available on the market by mid-2026.
The detailed remit of the ban, which is being decided upon with France’s Council of State (Conseil d’État) — the French advisory body tasked with advising the government on prospective bills and decrees — has not yet been revealed.
The French Health Minister said the government was counting on”elected representatives to implement (the ban) pragmatically.”
French public backs the ban
The French government has made tackling the number of deaths caused by smoking one of its key missions. Every year, 75,000 people are estimated to die from tobacco-related complications in France.
In 2023, France’s National Tobacco Control Programme set out to develop 26 measures — which included raising the price of tobacco, introducing plain packaging and banning the sale of vaping products — in a bid to reduce smoking-related deaths.
According to a survey conducted by NGO “La Ligue contre le cancer”, nearly eight out of 10 of those questioned were in favour of a ban, while 83% backed similar legislation for electronic cigarettes.
The measures unveiled by France follow Thursday’s announcement from the Spanish government, revealing its plans to ban smoking in a wide range of places — including bar and restaurant terraces, university campuses, vehicles used for work purposes and outdoor sporting events.
