France to Expand Smoking Bans in July, Plans to Restrict E-Cigarette Nicotine Levels and Flavors by 2026

Key Points:

1.French Health Minister Catherine Watrin announced that starting from July 1, 2025, France will prohibit smoking in public places accessible to children, including beaches, parks, bus stops, areas around schools, and sports facilities.

2.This ban does not apply to cafes, outdoor patios, and currently does not include e-cigarette products.

3.The government plans to implement stricter regulations on e-cigarette products, including reducing the allowed nicotine content and available flavors, by the first half of 2026.

4.This measure is part of the National Tobacco Control Plan 2023-2027 and has garnered support from approximately 80% of the French public.

According to a report from the European news network on May 29, French Minister of Labor, Health, Solidarity, and the Family Catherine Vautrin announced in an interview with the "Western France News" that smoking will be banned in public places where children are allowed to enter, starting on July 1. The ban does not include e-cigarettes, as reported by the Western France News.

In accordance with regulations, smoking is prohibited on beaches, parks, gardens, sports facilities, bus stops, and schools in France. In order to prevent "middle school and high school students from smoking in front of schools," middle and high schools will also be affected by this ban.

Catherine stated that the freedom to smoke "ends where the right of children to breathe clean air begins," and added that violating this law will result in "a fine of up to 135 euros.

The specific scope of the ban will be outlined in the "implementing regulations," she explained. "We are currently coordinating this decision with the State Council, and we believe officials will implement this decision in a practical manner." However, this new ban does not apply to coffee shops and bar patios.

Although these places still allow the use of e-cigarettes, Catherine hopes to "reduce the permitted nicotine levels in these products" as well as the "number of flavors provided." Her goal is to achieve this by the first half of 2026. At that time, she hopes to consult with scientific and technical experts "to determine the details.

Catherine stated that one-tenth of the deaths in France each year are related to tobacco, leading to 75,000 deaths.

According to reports, this measure is part of the "2023-2027 National Tobacco Control Plan" announced by then-Health Minister Aurélien Rousseau on November 28, 2023. The plan includes 26 measures such as raising tobacco prices, implementing plain packaging, and banning the sale of e-cigarette products.

According to a survey by the Anti-Cancer Alliance, nearly 80% of respondents expressed support for this, with 83% of them even hoping for similar legislation to be enacted for e-cigarettes.