From the Freedom to Smoke to the Right to Breathe: Understanding the Health Shift of 2025

Catherine Vautrin's announcement of the ban comes in a political climate favorable to public health reforms

Catherine Vautrin, Minister of Labor, Health, Solidarity, and Families, announced it firmly. From July 1, 2025, smoking will be prohibited on all beaches. Additionally, this will apply to public parks and gardens. Then, this ban will extend to the vicinity of schools. Furthermore, it will include bus shelters. Finally, it will also affect open-air sports facilities. This decision marks a new step in the fight against smoking in France.

The stated goal is clear: protect the youngest from early exposure to smoke. The government thus intends to establish a strong social norm. “Where there are children, tobacco must disappear”, the minister emphasizes in an interview with Ouest-France. She specifies that this ban will not concern café terraces or electronic cigarettes for the moment. However, she warns: "I do not rule out anything in the future."

An aggressive public health policy

This measure is part of a national plan to combat smoking. Indeed, tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable death in France. Each year, it kills 75,000 people, or more than 200 deaths per day. The health burden is colossal, but the economic consequences are just as significant.

Brigitte Bardot, a free icon with a cigarette in her mouth: in the 60s, smoking on screen embodied boldness. Today, this image illustrates how much social norms around tobacco have changed.

Diseases related to tobacco consumption, including cancers, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, have a major economic impact. Indeed, they generate 150 billion euros in annual costs for the community. "Tobacco is not just an individual problem, it is a collective scourge," insists Catherine Vautrin. She reminds that public health is also a shared responsibility between the State, local authorities, and citizens.

A legislative evolution initiated since 2007

The fight against passive smoking took a step forward in February 2007. Indeed, smoking in enclosed public places such as bars, restaurants, businesses, and transportation was banned. Then, in 2015, the legislation was extended to children’s play areas in green spaces.

The great Isabelle Huppert, between icy style and subtle provocation. On screen as in real life, she plays with the codes. But the cigarette, once an icon, is becoming an object of controversy.

Since then, many local authorities have issued more restrictive municipal decrees. Today, there are 1,600 cities that have banned smoking in sensitive outdoor areas. The national measure announced on May 29, 2025 standardizes and strengthens these local initiatives. Moreover, it provides them with a unified legislative foundation.

A mixed reaction from tobacco professionals

This new restriction has sparked criticism, particularly among tobacconists. Rémi Ferrec, president of the tobacconists’ federation of Pyrénées-Orientales, laments a "loss of freedom" and a "publicity stunt". He believes that the targeted areas are not the main sources of passive smoking. Furthermore, he questions their real impact on public health.

Alain Delon, the archetype of the virile smoker of the sixties. Today, this mythical pose raises questions: what was once glamorous is now a public health issue.

He adds that "the beach ashtrays have existed for a long time" and that smokers already adopt respectful behaviors. For him, this measure could reinforce stigmatization without producing significant effects. Professional unions are instead calling for strengthened prevention actions and support for smoking cessation.

A European dynamic and strong associative support

France is not moving forward alone. In September 2024, the European Commission recommended that member states ban tobacco consumption. Notably, this concerns high-density outdoor spaces. This includes restaurant terraces, the vicinity of cultural sites, and queues.

At Belmondo's, smoking was almost like a stunt. His flair masked the dangers of a gesture repeated on screen. Today, the image remains iconic, but the message has changed. — At Belmondo’s, smoking was almost like a stunt. His flair masked the dangers of a gesture repeated on screen. Today, the image remains iconic, but the message has changed.

Many NGOs and associations welcome the French decision. The National Committee Against Smoking (CNCT) and the association Tomorrow Will Be Non-Smoker remind that passive smoking is harmful. Even in the open air, it particularly affects children, pregnant women, and vulnerable people. Studies show that in semi-open environments, smoke can linger. Thus, it exceeds the danger thresholds set by the World Health Organization.

A tobacco-free generation in sight

The minister does not hide her ambition: to bring about a "tobacco-free generation" by the end of the decade. Like the United Kingdom, France is considering radical measures. This country bans for life the purchase of cigarettes for people born after 2009.

Catherine Vautrin mentions a future total ban on the sale of tobacco to minors, or even a complete overhaul of the nicotine product offerings. Awareness campaigns in schools are being developed. Better support for smoking parents is also planned. Additionally, increased support for cessation is being developed.

A political course assumed

July 1, 2025 will mark a decisive turning point in French public health policy. By banning tobacco in frequented outdoor spaces, the government affirms its willingness to act upstream. Before diseases occur, this preventive measure is implemented.

This choice is also political, environmental, and educational. It engages a vision of a society more respectful of everyone’s health. The path will be long, the resistances numerous, but the goal of a tobacco-free France is no longer a utopia. It becomes a strategic orientation, consistent with international commitments and the growing expectations of citizens.