France will disable smoking in all external places where there may be children, The Minister of Health and Family Catherine Vautrin announced on Thursday. In an interview for the Ouest-France Regional Diary, she added that Freedom to smoke “ends where the right of children to breathe clean air begins.”
As AFP reported, the ban will come into effect on July 1, in all places where children could be located: On the beaches, in parks, public gardens, schools, public transport stops and stadiums. The ban will also apply to primary and secondary schools to prevent “pupils will smoke in front of the school”.
The violator faces a fine of EUR 135. The prohibition will not apply to the external terraces of cafes or to electronic cigarettes. However, the Minister announced in an interview that she wanted to enforce a reduction in the content of nicotine in the application products and limit the number of flavors. She added that “Caval products also create dependence and can be the gateway to tobacco.”
Vautrin described as a paradox that vo France is prohibited by the purchase of tobacco and tobacco products to minors, but their use no longer – unlike some countries. She added that even France is not planning such a ban. She explained that she considers the actions taken for now sufficient, believing that she believes that A ban on smoking near the places where there are children “can lead to the first generation without tobacco.”
The introduction of formulating zones in France is part of the National Program of Fighting Smoking for 2023-27, which was presented by former Minister of Health Aurélien Rousseau in order to “achieve the generation of exempt from tobacco to 2032”. When asked about the Ouest-France daily, Whether it is planned to increase tobacco taxes, Catherine Vautrin replied that “currently” is not expected to increase. “I am cautious about this question when I see the damage caused by the smuggling of tobacco,” explained.
Since the first term of office of Emmanuel Macron, the price of tobacco products in France has increased significantly, In 2025 it reached 12 euros per package and in 2026 it should rise to 13 euros. According to a recent public opinion survey The ban on smoking in public places is supported by 62 percent of France’s population.
