France is set to enforce a significant expansion of its smoking ban in public outdoor spaces, effective July 1, 2025. The Ministry of Labour, Health, Solidarities, and Families announced these new nationwide restrictions on May 30th as part of a broader strategy to intensify the fight against tobacco use, particularly focusing on protecting children and preventing youth smoking initiation.
From July 1st, smoking will be prohibited in the following public outdoor areas across the entire country:
- Beaches adjacent to bathing waters
- Public parks and gardens
- Bus shelters and traveler waiting areas
- Areas surrounding schools (primary, middle, and high schools)
- Areas near locations intended for the reception, training, or accommodation of minors
- Areas surrounding libraries, swimming pools, stadiums, and sports facilities
While many municipalities previously had local ordinances for such bans, these measures will now apply uniformly nationwide. Importantly, the announced prohibitions specifically target traditional tobacco smoking and do **not** currently apply to the use of electronic cigarettes (vapes).
These new outdoor smoking restrictions are part of a larger set of measures aimed at reducing smoking among young people, based on the observation that "90% of young people start smoking before 18." Other related actions include a ban on the sale, manufacture, and distribution of disposable vapes ("puffs") in France, strict limitations on vape product flavors (especially those appealing to youth like candy or cotton candy), and a reduction in the authorized nicotine levels for both tobacco and vaping products.
