The Ban Announced by Catherine Vautrin, Minister of Labor and Health, will take effect on July 1st.
Public Spaces Prohibited to Smokers
No smoking will be allowed in parks, on beaches, and near schools. This new measure, announced by Catherine Vautrin in the pages of d’Ouest-France, is drawing responses. “Starting July 1st, beaches, parks and public gardens, school perimeters, bus shelters, and sports facilities will be smoke-free areas everywhere in France. Smoking will therefore be prohibited to protect our children,” stated the Minister of Labor and Health on May 29th.
This measure aims to safeguard the youngest, with offenders facing a “fourth-class fine”, as highlighted by Franceinfo, amounting to 135 euros. This should discourage even the most addicted from breaking the law.
To ensure compliance with the ban, police will monitor the situation, including around middle and high schools that are also affected by the decree. The exact perimeter will be established in consultation with local municipalities, which have previously ensured compliance with this rule in certain parks and gardens.
E-Cigarettes Under Government Scrutiny
The intention to make public spaces smoke-free is not new. As early as 2024, around 500 French beaches had already banned smoking. Thirteen years earlier, the city of Nice (Alpes-Maritimes) had prohibited cigarettes on its beaches.
It is worth noting that e-cigarettes are not included in this ban.
However, Catherine Vautrin is considering lowering the nicotine levels permitted in vaping products and reducing the number of available flavors. This project is anticipated to be implemented by mid-2026. For now, no increase in the price of cigarette packs has been announced.
Smoke-free areas will be expanded to places that welcome children throughout France starting July 1st.
A generation without tobacco is possible, and it starts now!https://t.co/T64TYxLKyq
— Catherine Vautrin (@CaVautrin) May 29, 2025
