France is set to implement a ban on smoking in all outdoor areas accessible to children, including beaches, parks, and bus stops, as announced by the Health and Family Minister on Thursday.
Known for its culture of smoking on café terraces and picturesque streets, France has been tightening restrictions on tobacco use in public spaces over recent years.
This new regulation, effective July 1, will apply to all areas where children might be present, such as beaches, parks, public gardens, areas outside schools, bus stops, and sports venues, according to Minister Catherine Vautrin.
“Tobacco must disappear where there are children,” Vautrin stated in an interview with the regional daily Ouest-France.
The minister emphasized that the freedom to smoke is limited by children’s right to clean air. The ban will also target school vicinities to prevent students from smoking nearby.
Offenders may face fines of up to 135 euros ($154).
Café terraces, however, will not be affected by this new ban, as clarified by the minister. Additionally, electronic cigarettes, which have gained popularity in France, are not included in this restriction.
France already prohibits smoking in public spaces such as workplaces, airports, train stations, and playgrounds. Anti-smoking groups have been advocating for an expanded ban.
Approximately 35% of the French population are smokers, surpassing the European average of 25% and the global average of 21%, according to the World Health Organization. Tobacco-related complications cause an estimated 75,000 deaths annually in France.
A recent opinion survey showed that 62% of French citizens support banning smoking in public places.
The government’s National Anti-Tobacco Programme for 2023 to 2027 proposed a similar smoking ban, aiming for a tobacco-free generation by 2032.
Despite anti-tobacco organizations expressing concerns over delays in implementation, more than 1,500 cities and villages have already enacted their own bans on smoking in public spaces like parks, beaches, and ski slopes.
Vautrin noted that there are no current plans to increase taxes on cigarettes, pointing to the thriving black market that resulted from past tax hikes.
This report originally appeared on Fortune.com.
