La Derecha Diario France banned smokers in all outdoor public spaces
The progressive French government has decided that no smoker can practice their activity even outdoors, further restricting the habit
France will implement starting July 1, 2025, a new ban on smoking in all outdoor spaces where children may be present.
This measure, announced by the Minister of Health and Families, Catherine Vautrin, includes beaches, parks, public gardens, areas around schools, bus stops, and sports facilities.
The minister emphasized that "tobacco must disappear where there are children" and argued that "the freedom to smoke ends where children's freedom to breathe clean air begins."
Failure to comply with this regulation will result in a fine of up to 135 euros, and its enforcement will be the responsibility of the police. However, Vautrin expressed her confidence in citizens' self-regulation.
Although the measure represents a tightening of restrictions on tobacco use in public spaces, it will not apply to café and bar terraces, an iconic cultural feature of France. The use of electronic cigarettes is also not included in this ban, although the minister indicated that she is working to limit the nicotine content in these devices.
The ban is part of a broader framework within the French government's 2023-2027 National Anti-Tobacco Program, which aims to achieve a "tobacco-free generation" by 2032.
Although the widespread ban in outdoor public spaces had already been proposed previously for 2024, its implementation was delayed due to the lack of adoption of the necessary decree. Nevertheless, more than 1,500 municipalities have already implemented voluntary restrictions on smoking in public spaces such as beaches and parks.
According to data from the French Observatory of Drugs and Drug Addiction, 23.1% of the population smokes daily, the lowest figure ever recorded in the country and a drop of more than five points since 2014. Still, it is estimated that about 75,000 people die each year in France from tobacco-related diseases, representing 13% of all deaths.
France has made progress in the fight against smoking in recent decades. Since 2008, smoking has been banned in indoor places such as restaurants, nightclubs, and workplaces.
Organizations such as the National Committee Against Smoking have welcomed this new measure, although they have also expressed concern about the slowness of its implementation. In addition, a recent survey revealed that 62% of French people support the ban on smoking in public spaces, and nearly 80% are in favor of extending it to forests, beaches, parks, and terraces.
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