Smoking on the beach, in the park or under a bus shelter is prohibited from Sunday, according to a decree in the Official Journal.

The decree announced by the government to extend the smoking ban to bus shelters, public parks and gardens, beaches, as well as around libraries, swimming pools and schools, was published in the Official Journal on Saturday morning, with implementation starting Sunday.

This ban, aimed primarily at protecting children from passive smoking, does not apply to café and restaurant terraces and does not mention electronic cigarettes, according to the text.

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The decree still needs to be supplemented by an order from the Minister of Health to define the specific areas where smoking will no longer be permitted around schools, libraries, sports facilities and establishments intended for the reception, training or accommodation of minors.

This measure had been promised by the government for the end of 2023 and confirmed at the end of May by Catherine Vautrin for an entry into force initially set for July 1 throughout France.

Failure to comply with this ban could eventually be punished by a class four fine, or €135, but the Ministry of Health had mentioned to the press at the end of May a period of "education." The decree published Saturday morning does not mention a fine for violations.

"Where there are children, tobacco must disappear," declared Catherine Vautrin at the end of May, arguing that the freedom to smoke "ends where children's right to breathe clean air begins."

The expansion of smoke-free spaces was one of the measures planned by the National Tobacco Control Program (PNLT) 2023-2027, presented by the then Minister of Health, Aurélien Rousseau, with the ambition of "meeting the challenge of a generation free of tobacco by 2032."

Eager to take action, 1,600 voluntary municipalities have already extended the ban on smoking in public places to parks, beaches, ski slopes, school areas, etc., i.e. 7,000 smoke-free areas, in local experiments supported by the League Against Cancer.

The decree published on Saturday also strengthens the penalties for the sale of tobacco and vaping products to minors, which now constitutes a fifth-class fine (200 euros).