In a significant move to protect public health and reduce tobacco exposure among minors, France will ban smoking in all outdoor spaces frequented by children, including beaches, parks, and bus stops, starting July 1, 2025.
The announcement was made Thursday, May 29, by Health and Family Minister Catherine Vautrin, marking the latest step in France’s ongoing effort to tighten tobacco regulations in public areas.
“Tobacco must disappear where there are children,” Vautrin told regional newspaper Ouest-France. “The freedom to smoke stops where children’s right to breathe clean air starts.”
Under the new regulations, smoking will be prohibited in a range of public outdoor spaces where minors are likely to be present. This includes beaches, public parks, gardens, outside schools, bus stops, and sports venues. Violators will face fines of up to €135 (approximately $154).
The ban is part of France’s broader anti-smoking campaign, which has already outlawed smoking in indoor public spaces such as workplaces, airports, train stations, and playgrounds. However, the new rules will not apply to France’s famous cafe terraces — a staple of Parisian street life — nor will they cover electronic cigarettes, which have seen a surge in popularity across the country.
Anti-smoking advocacy groups have long called for stricter laws, pointing to France’s high smoking rates. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 35% of French adults smoke, significantly higher than the European average of 25% and the global average of 21%.
The upcoming ban represents a notable public health policy shift aimed at protecting vulnerable groups, particularly children, from the dangers of secondhand smoking.
