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Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
France travel, france tourism, places to visit in france, smoking ban in france, how to reach france
France will implement a comprehensive smoking ban in the majority of outdoor public areas that children visit, such as parks, beaches, bus stops, gardens, school entrances, and sporting arenas, from July 1, 2025. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Reducing exposure to secondhand smoke and protecting children's right to clean air are the goals of this project, which was introduced by Health and Family Minister Catherine Vautrin. The ban excludes café terraces and does not apply to electronic cigarettes. Enforcement will be carried out by law enforcement agencies, though Vautrin expressed hope that public "self-regulation" would play a significant role in compliance. Read more: This action expands on France's long-standing tobacco control initiatives. In 2008, smoking was outlawed in indoor public places like pubs and restaurants. At the moment, more than 1,500 towns and several beaches have enacted smoking bans on their own. About 23% of French people smoke every day, which is a considerable decrease from earlier decades. The new law supports France's broader 2023–2027 National Anti-Tobacco Program, which seeks to end tobacco consumption by 2032. This extensive initiative aims to reduce tobacco use through a mix of stricter legislation, greater public awareness, and easier access to cessation support. Officials hope that by gradually limiting spaces where smoking is socially and legally acceptable, younger generations will grow up in an environment where tobacco use is neither visible nor normalised. Public health advocates have supported the prohibition, while some detractors claim it violates people's rights. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Regarding the restriction of individual liberties, Mayor David Lisnard of Cannes questioned if public health justifies such measures. Read more: This latest initiative by France aligns with a growing trend across Europe to implement stricter smoking regulations. Countries like Spain and the United Kingdom are expanding restrictions to outdoor venues, reflecting a continental shift towards more comprehensive smoking bans. This comprehensive outdoor smoking ban marks a significant step in France's ongoing efforts to promote public health and protect its citizens, particularly children, from the harmful effects of tobacco smoke.
Japan Today
29-05-2025
- Health
- Japan Today
France to ban smoking outdoors in most places
From July 1, France plans to ban smoking on beaches, in parks and other places where children might be By Laurent BARTHELEMY 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%) favor banning smoking in public places. The government's National Anti-Tobacco Program 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 organizations 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. © 2025 AFP
