By Leka Lemu
France will implement a
nationwide ban on smoking in outdoor areas frequented by children starting 1
July 2025, Health Minister Catherine Vautrin announced on Thursday.
The measure prohibits tobacco
use at beaches, parks, bus stops, school entrances, and sports facilities.
"The freedom to smoke ends where children's right to clean air
begins," Vautrin told Ouest-France. Violators face fines up to
€135 (£115).
Notably exempt are café
terraces – iconic to French culture – and e-cigarettes. France already enforces
indoor smoking bans in workplaces, transport hubs, and playgrounds.
Anti-tobacco advocates welcome
the move as WHO data shows 35% of French adults smoke – exceeding European
(25%) and global (21%) averages.
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