France has implemented a new law prohibiting smoking in beaches, public parks, bus shelters, and within a 10‑meter radius of schools, swimming pools, libraries, and other locations frequented by children. The regulation, filed in the government gazette on June 28, is part of a public health initiative aimed at shielding minors from the harmful effects of passive smoking and advancing a goal of raising a “tobacco‑free generation” by 2032.

Exceptions under the decree include terraces of cafes and restaurants, which will still permit smoking, and the new legislation makes no specific mention of e‑cigarettes. The law imposes fines ranging from €135 to €700 for violations, although French authorities plan an initial grace period for enforcement.

The decision has drawn trade‑offs in public reception. Supporters view it as a long‑overdue step to denormalize smoking in settings where children play or gather, while critics have described the move as overly authoritarian.

France’s smoking rate remains one of the highest in Western Europe—over 30% of adults smoke daily, and around 15% of 17‑year‑olds are regular smokers, according to recent public health surveys. Tobacco‑related illnesses are estimated to cause nearly 75,000 deaths per year and incur an economic cost approaching $176 billion annually.

Health and Family Minister Catherine Vautrin emphasized that “tobacco must disappear from places where there are children”—reinforcing the government’s broader anti‑tobacco agenda. The legislation follows earlier indoor smoking bans from 2007 and 2008 and mirrors a continental trend, as countries like Spain, Britain, and Sweden tighten outdoor smoking regulations.

By: TPA News Desk | editor@thepointafricanews.com