Latest news with #PhilippeBergerot
Canada News.Net
10 hours ago
- Health
- Canada News.Net
France cracks down on public smoking to protect children
PARIS, France: France is taking stronger steps to reduce smoking. A new health rule announced on Saturday will soon ban smoking in many public places. This includes all parks, beaches, sports areas, bus stops, and near schools—anywhere children might be present. Smoking has long been seen as a part of French culture, especially in films. Because of this, government efforts to limit smoking have often faced pushback. Philippe Bergerot, head of the French League Against Cancer, said that some people still see smoking bans as limiting their freedom. But he explained that the goal is to make smoking seem less normal in public life. "We are not banning smoking completely," he said. "We are just banning it in places where it can harm others, especially young people." France already banned smoking inside restaurants, bars, and public buildings in 2007 and 2008. Cigarette prices have also gone up sharply due to taxes, with a pack now costing over 12 euros (around $14). Still, over 30% of French adults smoke, most of them every day. That's one of the highest rates in Europe and the world. Officials are apprehensive about young people—about 15% of 17-year-olds smoke, and illegal cigarette sales are common. Health Minister Catherine Vautrin said tobacco causes about 200 deaths every day in France, or 75,000 each year. Some people support the new rules, while others feel they go too far. In a park in Paris, a woman named Natacha Uzan said she agreed with the ban in restaurants, but thought banning smoking in parks was "a bit too much." Another woman, Anabelle Cermell, who has a baby, welcomed the rule. "It's not ideal when people smoke around my child," she said, "but before this, there wasn't much I could do." The government said the ban will start on July 1. It will soon share more details about exactly where it applies. Other European countries are also taking more decisive actions. Britain and Sweden have stricter public smoking rules. Spain is expanding its ban to include café and restaurant terraces, which are still allowed under France's new rules.
New York Post
3 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
France to ban smoking in parks, beaches, and near schools in new public health decree
France has struggled to kick its smoking habit. A new public health decree published Saturday aims to change that. In the coming days, smoking will be banned in all French parks and sports venues, at beaches and bus stops, in a perimeter around all schools, and anywhere children could gather in public. In a country where smoking has for generations been glamorized in cinema and intertwined with the national image, government crackdowns on tobacco use have met resistance. Advertisement 3 Smoking will be banned in all parks, sports venues, at beaches and bus stops, in a perimeter around all schools and anywhere children could gather in public in France. SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images 'In France, we still have this mindset of saying, 'this is a law that restricts freedom,'' Philippe Bergerot, president of the French League Against Cancer, told the Associated Press. The ban aims ''to promote what we call denormalization. In people's minds, smoking is normal,'' he said. ''We aren't banning smoking; we are banning smoking in certain places where it could potentially affect people's health and … young people.'' It's been illegal to smoke in restaurants, bars and public buildings since a series of bans in 2007 and 2008. Ever-higher taxes mean a pack now costs upwards of 12 euros ($14). Advertisement Yet more than 30% of French adults still smoke cigarettes, most of them daily, one of the higher rates in Europe and globally. The Health Ministry is particularly concerned that tobacco remains popular among young people, citing public health statistics showing that 15% of 17-year-olds smoke. Black market cigarette trading is common. More than 200 people in France die each day of tobacco-related illness, Health Minister Catherine Vautrin said in a statement Saturday. That adds up to some 75,000 deaths per year. In a Paris park as the ban loomed, views were mixed. Advertisement 3 It's been illegal to smoke in restaurants, bars and public buildings in France due to a series of bans in 2007 and 2008. AFP via Getty Images 3 A pack of cigarettes now costs upwards of 12 euros ($14) because of taxes. Getty Images/iStockphoto Parisian Natacha Uzan welcomed the end of smoking in restaurants. But she said: ''Now outside, in parks, I find it becoming a bit repressive.' The broader ban is a ''good thing'' for Anabelle Cermell, mother of a 3-month-old boy. ''I tell myself, oh, it's really not ideal for him, but there's not much I can do about it, or I would have to … not take the bus, not go to parks.' Advertisement The government said last month that the new ban would take effect July 1. The official decree introducing the ban was published Saturday, and a health minister's statement said that a government order specifying the perimeters set by the ban would be published in the coming days. Electronic cigarettes are exempt from the new ban. Other European countries have gone farther. Britain and Sweden have tightened smoking regulations in public spaces. Spain is extending its smoking ban to café and restaurant terraces, which are exempt from France's new ban.
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Business Standard
4 days ago
- Health
- Business Standard
France bans smoking in parks, beaches, and bus stops for public health
France has struggled to kick its smoking habit. A new public health decree published Saturday aims to change that. In the coming days, smoking will be banned in all French parks and sports venues, at beaches and bus stops, in a perimeter around all schools, and anywhere children could gather in public. In a country where smoking has for generations been glamorised in cinema and intertwined with the national image, government crackdowns on tobacco use have met resistance. "In France, we still have this mindset of saying, this is a law that restricts freedom," Philippe Bergerot, president of the French League Against Cancer, told the Associated Press. The ban aims "to promote what we call denormalisation. In people's minds, smoking is normal," he said. "We aren't banning smoking; we are banning smoking in certain places where it could potentially affect people's health and ... young people." It's been illegal to smoke in restaurants, bars and public buildings since a series of bans in 2007 and 2008. Ever-higher taxes mean a pack now costs upwards of 12 euros ($14). Yet more than 30% of French adults still smoke cigarettes, most of them daily, one of the higher rates in Europe and globally. The Health Ministry is particularly concerned that tobacco remains popular among young people, citing public health statistics showing that 15% of 17-year-olds smoke. Black market cigarette trading is common. More than 200 people in France die each day of tobacco-related illness, Health Minister Catherine Vautrin said in a statement Saturday. That adds up to some 75,000 deaths per year. In a Paris park as the ban loomed, views were mixed. Parisian Natacha Uzan welcomed the end of smoking in restaurants. But she said: 'Now outside, in parks, I find it becoming a bit repressive. The broader ban is a 'good thing' for Anabelle Cermell, mother of a 3-month-old boy. "'I tell myself, oh, it's really not ideal for him, but there's not much I can do about it, or I would have take the bus, not go to parks, she said. The government said last month that the new ban would take effect July 1. The official decree introducing the ban was published Saturday, and a health minister's statement said that a government order specifying the perimeters set by the ban would be published in the coming days. Electronic cigarettes are exempt from the new ban. Other European countries have gone farther. Britain and Sweden have tightened smoking regulations in public spaces. Spain is extending its smoking ban to caf and restaurant terraces, which are exempt from France's new ban.
4 days ago
- Health
France to ban smoking in parks, beaches, and near schools
PARIS -- France has struggled to kick its smoking habit. A new public health decree published Saturday aims to change that. In the coming days, smoking will be banned in all French parks and sports venues, at beaches and bus stops, in a perimeter around all schools, and anywhere children could gather in public. In a country where smoking has for generations been glamorized in cinema and intertwined with the national image, government crackdowns on tobacco use have met resistance. 'In France, we still have this mindset of saying, 'this is a law that restricts freedom,''' Philippe Bergerot, president of the French League Against Cancer, told the Associated Press. The ban aims ''to promote what we call denormalization. In people's minds, smoking is normal,'' he said. ''We aren't banning smoking; we are banning smoking in certain places where it could potentially affect people's health and ... young people.'' It's been illegal to smoke in restaurants, bars and public buildings since a series of bans in 2007 and 2008. Ever-higher taxes mean a pack now costs upwards of 12 euros ($14). Yet more than 30% of French adults still smoke cigarettes, most of them daily, one of the higher rates in Europe and globally. The Health Ministry is particularly concerned that tobacco remains popular among young people, citing public health statistics showing that 15% of 17-year-olds smoke. Black market cigarette trading is common. More than 200 people in France die each day of tobacco-related illness, Health Minister Catherine Vautrin said in a statement Saturday. That adds up to some 75,000 deaths per year. In a Paris park as the ban loomed, views were mixed. Parisian Natacha Uzan welcomed the end of smoking in restaurants. But she said: ''Now outside, in parks, I find it becoming a bit repressive.' The broader ban is a ''good thing'' for Anabelle Cermell, mother of a 3-month-old boy. ''I tell myself, oh, it's really not ideal for him, but there's not much I can do about it, or I would have to ... not take the bus, not go to parks.' The government said last month that the new ban would take effect July 1. The official decree introducing the ban was published Saturday, and a health minister's statement said that a government order specifying the perimeters set by the ban would be published in the coming days. Electronic cigarettes are exempt from the new ban. Other European countries have gone farther. Britain and Sweden have tightened smoking regulations in public spaces. Spain is extending its smoking ban to café and restaurant terraces, which are exempt from France's new ban.
West Australian
4 days ago
- Health
- West Australian
France to ban smoking in parks, beaches, near schools
France has introduced a new smoking ban to curb tobacco use, a long-standing issue in the country. In the coming days, smoking will be banned in all French parks and sports venues, at beaches and bus stops, in a perimeter around all schools and anywhere children could gather in public. In a country where smoking has for generations been glamorised in cinema and intertwined with the national image, government crackdowns on tobacco use have met resistance. "In France, we still have this mindset of saying, 'this is a law that restricts freedom'," Philippe Bergerot, president of the French League Against Cancer, told the Associated Press. The ban aims "to promote what we call denormalisation. In people's minds, smoking is normal," he said. "We aren't banning smoking; we are banning smoking in certain places where it could potentially affect people's health and ... young people." It has been illegal to smoke in restaurants, bars and public buildings since a series of bans in 2007 and 2008. Ever-higher taxes mean a pack now costs upwards of 12 euros ($A22). Yet more than 30 per cent of French adults still smoke cigarettes, most of them daily, one of the higher rates in Europe and globally. The Health Ministry is particularly concerned that tobacco remains popular among young people, citing public health statistics showing that 15 per cent of 17-year-olds smoke. Black market cigarette trading is common. More than 200 people in France die each day of tobacco-related illness, Health Minister Catherine Vautrin said in a statement on Saturday - which adds up to 75,000 deaths per year. In a Paris park as the ban loomed, views were mixed. Parisian Natacha Uzan welcomed the end of smoking in restaurants. But she said: '"Now outside, in parks, I find it becoming a bit repressive". The broader ban is a "good thing" for Anabelle Cermell, mother of a three-month-old boy. "I tell myself, oh, it's really not ideal for him but there's not much I can do about it, or I would have to ... not take the bus, not go to parks." The government said last month that the new ban would take effect on July 1. The official decree introducing the ban was published on Saturday, and a health minister's statement said that a government order specifying the perimeters set by the ban would be published in the coming days. Electronic cigarettes are exempt from the new ban. Other European countries have gone farther: the United Kingdom and Sweden have tightened smoking regulations in public spaces. Spain is extending its smoking ban to café and restaurant terraces, which are exempt from France's new ban.
