France: Smoking ban on beaches goes into effect
The rules aim to protect children from the dangers of passive smoking, which, according to official figures, kills between 3,000 to 5,000 people a year in the country.
The new smoking rules
The rules, which were published in the official government gazette on Saturday, also forbid smoking in bus shelters and within a 10 metre (33 foot) radius of libraries, swimming pools and schools, all places frequented by children.
However, the ban does not apply to the terraces of bars and restaurants, unlike new rules that are soon to be introduced in neighbouring Spain.
E-cigarettes are also not mentioned in the rules.
Anyone violating the ban could face a fine between €135 (US$160) and €700, though there will be an initial grace period.
'Tobacco must disappear from places where there are children. A park, a beach, a school – these are places to play, learn and breathe. Not for smoking,' Health and Family Minister Catherine Vautrin said.
She said the new rules represented another step 'toward a tobacco-free generation', which France is targeting from 2032.
Smoking rate still high
More than 30% of French adults still smoke cigarettes, making it one of the more tobacco-friendly countries in Europe and the world.
Particularly concerning for health authorities is the statistic showing that 15% of 17-year-olds also smoke.
However, according to the French addiction agency, the OFDT, the habit is nonetheless declining in France, with the current figure 'the lowest prevalence ever recorded since 2000'.
More than 200 people in France die each day – around 75,000 a year – of illnesses related to tobacco consumption, Vautrin said in a statement on Saturday.
The relative high rate of smoking comes despite the fact that a packet of cigarettes now costs at least €12 (US$14) owing to rising taxes on tobacco.
In addition, smoking has been illegal in restaurants, bars and public buildings for well over a decade.
According to a recent opinion survey, 62% of people in France are in favour of a smoking ban in public places.
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