From June 29, anyone who smokes on beaches or parks in France can be punished under the new law to protect children from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. This regulation also applies to bus waiting areas and neighboring areas of libraries, swimming pools, schools - places where young children often visit.
The ban was announced in the government newspaper one day before it took effect, coinciding with the start of the summer vacation in France - the time when many families take their children to public places.
Violators can be fined from 135 euros (about 3.5 million VND) to a maximum of 700 euros (more than 21 million VND). However, the French Ministry of Health said there will be an explanation before imposing a severe penalty.
Minister of Health and Family Catherine Vautrin said: Cigarettes must disappear from places with children. Parks, beaches, schools are places for entertainment, breathing and studying, not for smoking". She called this a step forward towards the goal of building a "smokeless generation" from 2032.
According to regulations, no one is allowed to smoke within a radius of 10m around locations such as schools, swimming pools, and libraries. The French Ministry of Health will soon announce an official symbol to mark these areas.
However, some anti-smoking organizations believe that the regulation is still incomplete. The ban does not apply to the porch of cafes and e-cigarettes, disappointing those who support tougher policies.
Dr. Yves Martinet, Chairman of the National smoking Control Committee (CNCT), said that children also come to the porch, and electronic cigarettes with attractive flavors are making young people vulnerable.
On the contrary, the representative of the hotel service industry said that if smoking is banned at the porch, smokers will move to smoke near these facilities, affecting the surrounding area. They affirmed that the porch is the last space of friendship and freedom where smokers and non-smokers can live together.
Data shows that secondhand smoke causes between 3,000 and 5,000 deaths each year in France. The smoking rate has fallen sharply, with less than 25% of adults smoking daily in 2023 - the lowest level since 2000.
However, tobacco still causes about 75,000 deaths per year and costs 156 billion euros to French society. A recent survey shows that 62% of French people support a ban on smoking in public places.
