In a bold endeavour to safeguard public health—particularly for children—France will prohibit smoking in virtually all outdoor public spaces frequented by young people beginning July 1, 2025. The upcoming legislation, announced by Health and Family Minister Catherine Vautrin, marks a significant stride in the country’s nationwide effort to reduce tobacco-related harm .
The ban encompasses a wide array of areas: beaches, parks, public gardens, bus shelters, sports facilities, and vicinities of schools, libraries, and swimming pools, reflecting the government’s commitment to creating smoke-free environments where children congregate. Minister Vautrin underscored the policy’s core principle: “Where there are children, tobacco must disappear,” explaining that the right to clean air for minors supersedes the right to smoke outdoors.
At the same time, the legislation preserves traditional café and bar terraces, where smoking will still be allowed. Electronic cigarettes are also exempt, although the government has announced plans to tighten e‑cigarette regulations—including nicotine levels and flavor restrictions—by mid‑2026.
Individuals caught violating the ban face a €135 fine (approximately US $154). Enforcement responsibility lies with municipal authorities, with a blend of formal policing and encouragement of public adherence.
This comprehensive ban forms a cornerstone of France’s National Anti‑Tobacco Programme 2023–2027, which seeks to cultivate a “tobacco‑free generation by 2032”. Other measures in the programme include gradually raising tobacco prices—targeting €12 per pack by 2025 and €13 by 2027—mandating plain packaging, and extending oversight of vaping devices.
Public backing appears strong: surveys show high approval for smoke‑free public spaces, with up to 80% of citizens in favour of outdoor smoking restrictions, and 62% or more supporting bans in communal areas. Around 1,500 municipalities—and many beaches—have already voluntarily enacted similar policies, paving the way for national implementation.
While France has witnessed a decline in daily smoking to about 23%, the country still ranks among the European nations with higher smoking rates, approximately 35% overall. Smoking continues to claim an estimated 75,000 lives annually, making it France’s leading preventable cause of death.
The announcement has ignited a cultural conversation. France’s longstanding cinematic and social link with cigarette smoking—as immortalized by figures like Brigitte Bardot and Jean‑Paul Belmondo—is clashing with the modern drive for health protection. While some lament the loss of a familiar aspect of French identity, many others welcome the move as overdue, especially when considering the growing evidence of harm from second‑hand smoke.
European counterparts are also reinforcing similar bans: Sweden, Spain, and the UK have tightened outdoor smoking controls, while Finland aims for a broader end to tobacco use.
As July 1 approaches, France braces for a new chapter in its fight against tobacco—a chapter defined by cleaner air, healthier children, and a cautious yet resolute reimagining of public spaces once adorned by the curl of cigarette smoke.
