Beginning July 1, 2025, France will implement a ban on smoking in outdoor public areas where children are commonly present. The new regulation will apply to locations such as beaches, public parks, bus stops, school entrances, and sports facilities.

 

Health and Family Minister Catherine Vautrin announced the measure on Thursday, May 29, emphasizing the importance of protecting children from secondhand smoke. “Tobacco must disappear where there are children. The freedom to smoke ends where a child’s right to breathe clean air begins,” she told Ouest-France.

 

The initiative specifically targets smoking near schools, meaning students will no longer be permitted to smoke outside school gates. Violators risk fines of up to €135 (approximately $154).

 

However, the ban does not extend to outdoor café terraces or the use of electronic cigarettes.

 

France already prohibits smoking in indoor public places, including workplaces, airports, train stations, and playgrounds. Health advocates have long campaigned for broader restrictions to curb tobacco use.

 

According to the World Health Organization, 35% of the French population smokes—well above the European average of 25% and the global average of 21%.