Picture this: you're on a sun-soaked beach in France, soaking up the view. You reach into your bag, pull out a cigarette, and spark up—only to find yourself breaking the law. Come July, lighting up in many of France's beloved outdoor spaces will become illegal under a sweeping new anti-smoking policy.
On Thursday 29 May 2025, the French government announced it would introduce a nationwide ban on smoking in public spaces where children are present, part of an ambitious effort to create a smoke-free generation. The measure, set to take effect on 1 July 2025, is one of the strictest crackdowns on smoking in the country's history.
