France To Ban Smoking Outdoors In Most Places: Minister
France will ban smoking in all outdoor places that can be accessed by children, including beaches, parks and bus stops, the health and family minister announced Thursday.
Famed as a country where smokers linger over cigarettes on cafe terraces or strolling down cobblestone streets, France has increasingly tightened restrictions on tobacco use in public spaces in recent years.
The new ban, which will enter into force on July 1, will cover all spaces where children could be present, including "beaches, parks, public gardens, outside of schools, bus stops and sports venues", said the minister Catherine Vautrin.
"Tobacco must disappear where there are children," Vautrin said in an interview published by the regional Ouest-France daily on its website.
The freedom to smoke "stops where children's right to breathe clean air starts," she said.
The ban will also extend to schools, to stop students smoking in front of them.
Offenders face a fine of up to 135 euros ($154), Vautrin said.
The ban will not extend to France's iconic cafe terraces however, the minister said.
Electronic cigarettes, which have boomed in France in recent years, are also not covered.
France already forbids smoking in public spaces such as workplaces, airports and train stations, as well as playgrounds.
Anti-smoking groups had been fighting for a broader ban.
An estimated 35 percent of France's population are smokers -- higher than the averages for Europe (25 percent) and the world (21 percent), according to the World Health Organization.
Around 75,000 people are estimated to die from tobacco-related complications each year in France.
According to a recent opinion survey, six out of 10 French people (62%) favour banning smoking in public places.
The government's National Anti-Tobacco Programme for 2023 to 2027 proposed a smoking ban similar to the one announced by Vautrin, calling France to "rise to the challenge of a tobacco-free generation from 2032".
But anti-tobacco organisations had voiced concern the authorities were dragging their feet on implementing the measures.
More than 1,500 cities and villages had already imposed their own bans on smoking in public spaces such as parks, beaches and ski slopes.
Vautrin said there were no plans to place additional taxes on cigarettes "at the moment", citing the thriving black market that emerged after existing taxes were introduced in a bid to discourage smoking.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
DW
3 days ago
- DW
Turkey sees sharp rise in obesity – DW – 06/01/2025
Experts have linked high body weight to poverty, pesticides and malnutrition, among other things. The Health Ministry is fighting back, but its measures are drawing criticism. Worldwide, over 1 billion people are living with obesity. It's become such a serious issue that the World Health Organization has called it an "epidemic." According to a 2022 WHO report , Turkey ranks first in Europe for rates of overweight and obesity, with 66.8% of people affected. Turkey is also one of the world's high-income nations that is experiencing the sharpest rise in obesity. By 2030, it's estimated that 27 million people in Turkey — or one in three — will be obese. Health and social experts attribute this trend to insufficient nutrition, social inequality, unhealthy food supplies and a lack of coherent policy strategies. Studies indicate that one in five children in Turkey suffers from malnutrition, at least 10% of whom are overweight or obese. 'Poverty is the problem' For years, Turkey has faced high food price inflation, reducing citizens' purchasing power. Hacer Foggo, a Turkish poverty researcher and activist, said the growing number of obese children can be linked to extreme poverty. "Malnutrition can stunt growth and lead to obesity," she said, pointing to a 2022 study by the Turkish Statistical Institute showing that 62.4% of children in Turkey predominantly eat bread and pasta. These findings, she added, have not been taken seriously enough. Bulent Sik, a food researcher, sees a direct link between the rise in child obesity and the widespread consumption of highly processed foods with low nutritional value and a high sugar content. "The increasing consumption of cheap, easily accessible snacks and sugary soft drinks is directly tied to the rise in obesity," he said. As long as the manufacturing of these products is not regulated, he added, most political measures remain merely symbolic. Sik also warned of another risk: the use of toxic chemicals in food production, such as pesticides and certain additives that are related to hormonal imbalances and weight gain. "Some of these toxic substances have a negative impact on hormone systems," he explained, "which poses a serious threat, especially for growing children." He cited a study by Greenpeace Turkey showing that one-third of produce sold in Istanbul contained pesticide residues that can disrupt hormones, impede neurological development and potentially cause cancer. Despite these findings, Sik said, government food oversight policies still focus primarily on calorie counting. Health Ministry launches national campaign Turkey's Health Ministry has launched a national public health campaign to combat obesity, setting up stations in busy public areas and at event venues to measure citizens' height, weight and body mass index, or BMI. The aim is to identify overweight individuals and refer them to health centers or general practitioners, where they can receive support from nutritional advisers. The ministry hopes its campaign, launched in mid-May, will reach 10 million citizens within two months and help raise awareness about the dangers of obesity while promoting a healthy lifestyle. Turkey's Health Ministry has launched a nationwide campaign in an effort to curb obesity Image: Eren Bozkurt/Anadolu/picture alliance But the effort has drawn criticism for stigmatizing overweight individuals and overlooking the country's broader economic struggles. Healthy foods often expensive, inaccessible Experts say the state has not issued adequate guidelines for healthy eating or restricted the marketing of unhealthy foods. This lack of regulation is putting children and low-income communities at particular risk. "Political decision-makers are responsible for creating solutions," said Sik. Healthy and fresh foods are often more expensive and largely inaccessible to low-income households, leading to a nutritional imbalance. This contributes to obesity, growth disorders and iron deficiency in children. Over half of Turkey's children reportedly eat mostly bread and pasta, which experts warn can cause malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies Image: Adem Alta/AFP Both Sik and Foggo support a nationwide free school meal program. Foggo criticized the government for failing to act, despite repeated calls. "In the parliament's protocols, you can see that the Health Ministry has recognized the problem and sees that school meals are the solution. But not a single step has been taken," she said. Turkey is also facing a shortage of professionals in the field. According to the health and social workers' union Saglik Sen, the number of dietitians working in public hospitals has dropped by nearly 20% over the past five years. This article was originally written in German.
Int'l Business Times
6 days ago
- Int'l Business Times
France To Ban Smoking Outdoors In Most Places: Minister
France will ban smoking in all outdoor places that can be accessed by children, including beaches, parks and bus stops, the health and family minister announced Thursday. Famed as a country where smokers linger over cigarettes on cafe terraces or strolling down cobblestone streets, France has increasingly tightened restrictions on tobacco use in public spaces in recent years. The new ban, which will enter into force on July 1, will cover all spaces where children could be present, including "beaches, parks, public gardens, outside of schools, bus stops and sports venues", said the minister Catherine Vautrin. "Tobacco must disappear where there are children," Vautrin said in an interview published by the regional Ouest-France daily on its website. The freedom to smoke "stops where children's right to breathe clean air starts," she said. The ban will also extend to schools, to stop students smoking in front of them. Offenders face a fine of up to 135 euros ($154), Vautrin said. The ban will not extend to France's iconic cafe terraces however, the minister said. Electronic cigarettes, which have boomed in France in recent years, are also not covered. France already forbids smoking in public spaces such as workplaces, airports and train stations, as well as playgrounds. Anti-smoking groups had been fighting for a broader ban. An estimated 35 percent of France's population are smokers -- higher than the averages for Europe (25 percent) and the world (21 percent), according to the World Health Organization. Around 75,000 people are estimated to die from tobacco-related complications each year in France. According to a recent opinion survey, six out of 10 French people (62%) favour banning smoking in public places. The government's National Anti-Tobacco Programme for 2023 to 2027 proposed a smoking ban similar to the one announced by Vautrin, calling France to "rise to the challenge of a tobacco-free generation from 2032". But anti-tobacco organisations had voiced concern the authorities were dragging their feet on implementing the measures. More than 1,500 cities and villages had already imposed their own bans on smoking in public spaces such as parks, beaches and ski slopes. Vautrin said there were no plans to place additional taxes on cigarettes "at the moment", citing the thriving black market that emerged after existing taxes were introduced in a bid to discourage smoking.
DW
27-05-2025
- DW
France's National Assembly backs 'assisted dying' bill – DW – 05/27/2025
Lawmakers in the French lower house backed the right-to-die bill with 305 votes for and 199 against. French President Emmanuel Macron called it "an important step." France's contentious right-to-die bill has been approved by the National Assembly in its first reading, putting it on a path that could see patients being granted the right to die with medical assistance. Lawmakers voted in favor of the bill by a vote of 305 to 199, marking a key legislative step. The bill will now head to the Senate for further debate. Macron welcomes 'important step' "The vote by the National Assembly on the texts on the development of palliative care and assisted dying is an important step," said French President Emmanuel Macron on social media platform X. "With respect for sensitivities, doubts and hopes, the path of fraternity that I wished for is gradually opening up. With dignity and humanity," Macron said. Another palliative care bill seeking to bolster measures to relieve pain and preserve patient dignity was also adopted unanimously on Tuesday. Who could get medical assistance in dying? The legislation has strict conditions. For patients to receive medical assistance to die, they must be over 18 and either be French citizens or reside in France. Medical professionals would need to confirm the grave and incurable nature of patients' illnesses "at an advanced or terminal stage." The patients would need to be suffering from intolerable and untreatable pain and be seeking lethal medication of their own free will. Patients with severe psychiatric conditions and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease would not be eligible for the measures. If approved, a doctor would deliver a prescription for the lethal medication, which could be taken at home or at a nursing home or health care facility. UK's assisted dying bill: Emotional debate splits Parliament To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A source of contention The Association for the Right to Die with Dignity (ADMD) called the National Assembly vote "historic" and said that France had "the opportunity to join democracies concerned about individual freedoms, such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, and Australia." "It is a time of joy for those of us who see the hope of a controlled end of life, spared unappeasable suffering and unnecessary agony," the ADMD said in a statement. Meanwhile, the Conference of Religious Leaders in France (CRCF) — which represents the Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist communities — earlier this month jointly denounced the bill and warned of the "dangers" of an "anthropological rupture." Edited by: Sean Sinico
