A nationwide ban on smoking in public parks, beaches, and around schools came into force in France on Sunday, part of a broader campaign to protect children from secondhand smoke and reduce tobacco-related harm.

The new restrictions, published in the official gazette just a day earlier, also apply to bus shelters and areas surrounding libraries, swimming pools, and educational institutions.

Smoking will be prohibited within a 10-metre radius of these spaces, with clear signage and further details expected in the coming days.

The timing of the ban one week ahead of France’s summer school holidays, underscores its aim to safeguard children in outdoor public spaces.

Health and Family Minister Catherine Vautrin called the measure “another step toward a tobacco-free generation,” adding: “Parks, schools, beaches these are places for children to breathe, learn and play. Not for smoking.”

Offenders risk fines of up to €700, though authorities plan a brief grace period to raise public awareness.

Anti-smoking campaigners welcomed the move but criticized its limitations. Smoking remains permitted on bar and café terraces a common practice in France and electronic cigarettes are not covered by the new rules.

Dr. Yves Martinet, head of the National Committee Against Smoking (CNCT), argued the loopholes send mixed messages. “Children are also present on terraces. To be effective, the rule should ban all tobacco and nicotine use in public,” he said.

Hospitality industry groups opposed further restrictions, with the Hotels and Restaurants of France (GHR) defending outdoor terraces as “places of freedom” where smokers and non-smokers can coexist.

France has seen a gradual decline in tobacco use, with 2023 data showing fewer than one in four adults smoke daily the lowest rate since 2000. Still, smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death, responsible for 75,000 deaths annually. Passive smoking alone claims 3,000 to 5,000 lives each year.

The government estimates tobacco costs society €156 billion annually when factoring in healthcare, lost productivity, and prevention.

A recent public opinion survey found 62% of French citizens support smoking bans in public places a sign the new law may be well received, despite ongoing debate over its scope.