Monday, 25 May 2026
France bans smoking in public outdoor spaces to protect kids
PARIS - Beginning Sunday, June 29, France will begin enforcing a smoking ban in various public spaces such as beaches, parks, bus shelters, and public gardens, according to AFP.
The government announced that the new regulation, published in the official government gazette on Saturday, will also prohibit smoking outside libraries, swimming pools, and schools. The initiative is intended to shield children from secondhand smoke.
From Sunday, lighting up on beaches, in parks, public gardens, and at bus shelters will no longer be permitted. The ban specifically aims to reduce children's exposure to tobacco smoke, with Health and Family Minister Catherine Vautrin emphasizing in May the importance of "the right of children to breathe clean air" and declaring that "tobacco must disappear from places where there are children."
Electronic cigarettes are not covered by the new rules. Those who violate the ban risk a fine of 135 euros (about $158).
Outdoor café terraces remain exempt from these restrictions.
Tobacco use is a major health concern in France, resulting in an estimated 75,000 deaths annually due to related illnesses.
Support for the new regulation appears strong, with a recent survey indicating that 62 percent of French respondents approve of prohibiting smoking in public areas.