France to Ban Smoking at Most Outdoor Places, Beaches and Parks Included

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - France will enforce a smoking ban in all outdoor areas accessible by children, including beaches, parks, and bus stops. The ban was announced by the Minister of Health and Family on Thursday, May 29, 2025, as reported by France 24.

France is famed as a haven for smokers to enjoy cigarettes while sitting on cafe terraces or strolling on cobblestone streets. In recent years, France has been tightening restrictions on tobacco use in public places.

The new ban will take effect on July 1, 2025. "The ban covers all places where children could be present, including beaches, parks, public gardens, outside of schools, bus stops, and sports venues," said Minister Catherine Vautrin.

"Tobacco must disappear where there are children," Vautrin said in an interview published by the regional daily Ouest-France.

She said the freedom to smoke stops when children's right to breathe clean air begins. The ban will also be extended to schools to stop students from smoking in front of the school. Violators will face fines of up to 135 euros or the equivalent of US$154.

However, the ban will not extend to iconic French cafe terraces. E-cigarettes, which have become popular in France in recent years, are also not banned.

France has already banned smoking in public places such as workplaces, airports, train stations, and playgrounds.

Anti-smoking groups have been advocating for a broader ban. It is estimated that 35 percent of the French population are smokers, a figure higher than the European average of 25 percent and the global average of 21 percent, according to the World Health Organization.

Approximately 75,000 people are estimated to die from tobacco-related complications every year in France. According to a recent opinion survey, six out of 10 French people support a ban on smoking in public places.

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