In France, many outdoor public spaces will soon be smoke-free

"Where there are children, tobacco must disappear." The Minister of Health, Labor, Solidarity and Families, Catherine Vautrin, unveiled a series of measures at the end of May 2025 aimed at protecting young people from smoking.[1]The main measure announced is a general ban on smoking in many outdoor public spaces from 1^er July 2025. The minister also intends to reduce the nicotine level and the number of flavors in vaping products.

The ban on smoking in many outdoor public spaces and anti-vaping measures

Beaches, parks, public gardens, school areas, bus shelters and sports facilities will become smoke-free areas throughout the country from 1^er July 2025. While some municipalities had already adopted such restrictions, this new regulation now extends them to the whole of France.

However, café terraces and electronic cigarettes, as well as their liquids, are not affected by the ban, just as the ban on tobacco consumption by those under 18 is not currently affected. The minister nevertheless specifies that she " does not forbid himself anything in the future ", recognizing that the ban on selling tobacco to minors, without prohibiting its consumption, is paradoxical.

Failure to comply with these new rules could result in a fine of 4^e class, or 135 euros, may be imposed on offenders. The checks will be carried out by municipal police officers, and judicial police officers and agents, who are also authorized in principle, may intervene. Catherine Vautrin assures her confidence in " self-regulation of our fellow citizens. ".

The minister justifies this decision by recalling that " The freedom to smoke ends where children's right to breathe clean air begins. "The perimeter of the ban around schools will be specified in the implementing decree." We are currently determining this with the Council of State, and we will trust the elected officials to implement it in a pragmatic manner. ", continues Ms. Vautrin[2]The areas around middle and high schools are also affected, in particular to prevent “middle and high school students do not smoke in front of their school”.

Furthermore, the minister wants to reduce the permitted nicotine level and limit the flavorings in vaping products. The objective thus presented would be " to reduce the phenomenon of addiction and promote withdrawal ", in partnership with ANSES (French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety) and the High Authority for Health (HAS). These measures should be clarified by the end of June 2026, following expert advice.

However, no increase in tobacco taxes is planned in the short term. Echoing the arguments of the tobacco industry and tobacconists, the minister stated that "On this issue, I am cautious when I see the ravages of tobacco smuggling, and I want us to support the diversification of tobacconists' activities, because these local businesses are essential."[3]. Tobacco packets, which reached €12 in 2025, are expected to rise to €13 in 2026.

A national strategy to sustainably reduce smoking

This development of outdoor smoke-free places is part of the implementation of the current National Tobacco Control Program (PNLT) 2023-2027, presented by the then Minister of Health, Aurélien Rousseau, in 2023. The objective of this plan is to create a tobacco-free generation by 2032. Among the stated priorities is the desire to "denormalize" the act of smoking.

Yves Martinet, president of the National Committee Against Smoking (CNCT), emphasizes that these smoke-free spaces not only protect against secondhand smoke, but also encourage smokers to quit, an effectiveness proven by several studies. He regrets that terraces are not affected by the announcement, even though families visit them with their children.

Loïc Josseran, president of the Alliance Against Tobacco (ACT), reacted by saying that this represents " a step forward that will allow us to get away from smoking a little more […] But I think we could have gone a little further, particularly by going to the café terraces, which are veritable aquariums of smoke and smokers. […] We are faced with a real lobby of tobacco manufacturers who work through cafe and restaurant owners. ", noting that " many of these restaurateurs and bars are also tobacconists " and that the government " probably didn't want to engage in a standoff " with this profession. He points out the improbability of " a generation free from tobacco by 2032 ", " without increasing taxes " And " by leaving smoking areas on the terraces »[4].

As for Prisca Thévenot, former Secretary of State for Youth, she welcomed the new measures. "Let's believe together that the rule will be respected. It's a collective approach, we will reduce lung diseases, the problems that a certain number of young children have who may be exposed to tobacco smoke." ». This also allows " to avoid a certain number of cancers, particularly lung cancers. If we avoid a certain number of diseases, this will mean less expenditure, so it's a win-win. »[5].

Around 1,600 municipalities have already set up more than 7,000 local smoke-free areas (beaches, parks, ski slopes, school areas, etc.), often in partnership with the League Against Cancer or as part of the Free City Without Tobacco program. According to Philippe Bergerot, president of the League, these measures are now " generally well respected ", with 62% of French people in favor of a broader ban on smoking in public spaces, according to a survey commissioned by the association.

The human and economic cost of smoking remains very high, with 75,000 deaths each year. It is the leading cause of preventable death. […] A life is priceless, but cancers cost 150 billion euros per year, which is no small amount when you consider the financial situation of our social model. Tobacco is not just an individual problem, it is a collective scourge.", explained the Minister of Health[6]Indeed, according to figures from the French Observatory of Drugs and Addictive Trends (OFDT), smoking costs French society 156 billion euros per year (lost lives, quality of life and productivity, public spending on prevention, repression, care, etc.) and contrary to popular belief, tobacco is also expensive for the State, representing a net cost of nearly 2 billion euros.

©Generation Without Tobacco

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[1]Little Cyril, Richard Philippe, EXCLUSIVE. “Smoking will be banned on beaches, in parks, near schools…”, announces the minister., Ouest France, published May 29, 2025, consulted June 2, 2025

[2]The Parisian, Beaches, parks, school grounds...: smoking banned from July 1st, government announces, published May 29, 2025, accessed June 2, 2025

[3]Release, Parks, beaches, near schools... smoking banned from July 1st "where there are children," announces Catherine Vautrin, published May 29, 2025, accessed June 2, 2025

[4]Europe 1, Cigarettes banned: Alliance Against Tobacco regrets that terraces are spared, published May 31, 2025, accessed June 2, 2025

[5]Lambret Agathe, Smoking banned on beaches, in parks and around schools: Prisca Thévenot "praises the courage" of the Minister of Health, Radio France, published May 30, 2025, consulted June 2, 2025

[6]The Figaro, Smoking banned on beaches, in parks or near schools from July 1, published May 30, 2025, accessed June 2, 2025

National Committee Against Smoking |