Overview

• The decree took effect on June 29, prohibiting smoking in all public parks, sports grounds, beaches, bus shelters and within a 10-metre radius of schools, libraries and pools.
• Electronic cigarettes and café terraces are exempt from the ban, a limitation criticised by anti-tobacco groups for blunting the effort to change smoking norms.
• Violators face fines starting at €135 up to €700 after a brief grace period as signage and enforcement guidelines are rolled out locally.
• Health Minister Catherine Vautrin described the measure as essential to protect children from secondhand smoke and drive progress toward a tobacco-free generation by 2032.
• The outdoor ban builds on November’s 26-measure anti-smoking plan and joins existing indoor bans, plain-packaging rules and higher taxes to tackle France’s high smoking rates.