Overview

• From July 1, 2025, smoking will be prohibited in French outdoor public spaces including beaches, parks, playgrounds, bus stops and school vicinities.
• Outdoor terraces of cafes and bars are exempt from the French ban, allowing patrons to continue smoking while seated with their drinks.
• France will increase cigarette taxes to €12 per pack in 2025 and to €13 by 2027 as part of a broader effort to curb tobacco use.
• Spain’s government is finalising a comprehensive anti-smoking law to outlaw smoking and vaping in stadiums, pools, university campuses and work vehicles by the end of 2025.
• Advocates welcome the tighter rules but caution that uneven enforcement and the influence of the tobacco lobby could limit the bans’ effectiveness.