Latest news with #Vautrin
Muscat Daily
29-06-2025
- Health
- Muscat Daily
France: Smoking ban on beaches goes into effect
Paris, France – France has introduced new rules banning smoking on beaches, in parks and a number of other public spaces that went into force on Sunday. The rules aim to protect children from the dangers of passive smoking, which, according to official figures, kills between 3,000 to 5,000 people a year in the country. The new smoking rules The rules, which were published in the official government gazette on Saturday, also forbid smoking in bus shelters and within a 10 metre (33 foot) radius of libraries, swimming pools and schools, all places frequented by children. However, the ban does not apply to the terraces of bars and restaurants, unlike new rules that are soon to be introduced in neighbouring Spain. E-cigarettes are also not mentioned in the rules. Anyone violating the ban could face a fine between €135 (US$160) and €700, though there will be an initial grace period. 'Tobacco must disappear from places where there are children. A park, a beach, a school – these are places to play, learn and breathe. Not for smoking,' Health and Family Minister Catherine Vautrin said. She said the new rules represented another step 'toward a tobacco-free generation', which France is targeting from 2032. Smoking rate still high More than 30% of French adults still smoke cigarettes, making it one of the more tobacco-friendly countries in Europe and the world. Particularly concerning for health authorities is the statistic showing that 15% of 17-year-olds also smoke. However, according to the French addiction agency, the OFDT, the habit is nonetheless declining in France, with the current figure 'the lowest prevalence ever recorded since 2000'. More than 200 people in France die each day – around 75,000 a year – of illnesses related to tobacco consumption, Vautrin said in a statement on Saturday. The relative high rate of smoking comes despite the fact that a packet of cigarettes now costs at least €12 (US$14) owing to rising taxes on tobacco. In addition, smoking has been illegal in restaurants, bars and public buildings for well over a decade. According to a recent opinion survey, 62% of people in France are in favour of a smoking ban in public places. DW
DW
29-06-2025
- Health
- DW
France: Smoking ban on beaches goes into effect – DW – 06/29/2025
Smoking is now forbidden on beaches, in parks and other public spaces in France. The new rules aim to protect children being harmed by passive smoking. France has introduced new rules banning smoking on beaches, in parks and a number of other public spaces that went into force on Sunday. The rules aim to protect children from the dangers of passive smoking, which, according to official figures, kills between 3,000 to 5,000 people a year in the country. The rules, which were published in the official government gazette on Saturday, also forbid smoking in bus shelters and within a 10 meter (33 foot) radius of libraries, swimming pools and schools, all places frequented by children. However, the ban does not apply to the terraces of bars and restaurants, unlike new rules that are soon to be introduced in neighboring Spain. E-cigarettes are also not mentioned in the rules. Anyone violating the ban could face a fine between €135 ($160) and €700, though there will be an initial grace period. "Tobacco must disappear from places where there are children. A park, a beach, a school — these are places to play, learn and breathe. Not for smoking," Health and Family Minister Catherine Vautrin said. She said the new rules represented another step "toward a tobacco-free generation," which France is targeting from 2032. More than 30% of French adults still smoke cigarettes, making it one of the more tobacco-friendly countries in Europe and the world. Particularly concerning for health authorities is the statistic showing that 15% of 17-year-olds also smoke. However, according to the French addiction agency, the OFDT, the habit is nonetheless declining in France, with the current figure "the lowest prevalence ever recorded since 2000." More than 200 people in France die each day — around 75,000 a year — of illnesses related to tobacco consumption, Vautrin said in a statement on Saturday. The relative high rate of smoking comes despite the fact that a packet of cigarettes now costs at least €12 ($14) owing to rising taxes on tobacco. In addition, smoking has been illegal in restaurants, bars and public buildings for well over a decade. According to a recent opinion survey, 62% of people in France are in favor of a smoking ban in public places.
Euronews
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
France to ban smoking in public places to protect children
Brigitte Bardot lounged barefoot on a beach in Saint-Tropez, taking long puffs of a cigarette. Another actor, Jean-Paul Belmondo, strode down the Champs-Élysées, smoke billowing from his provocative lips, capturing the relentless rebellion of a generation. In France, cigarettes weren't just cigarettes: they were cinematic statements, flirtations and rebellions wrapped in rolling papers. However, from 1 July, if the iconic scenes of Bardot and Belmondo were reproduced in real life, they would be punishable by fines of up to €135 ($153) - despite the French Ministry of Health saying there would be a period of "education" in May. The decree published on Saturday morning makes no mention of fines for offences. The decree still needs to be supplemented by an order from the minister of health to define the precise areas where smoking will no longer be permitted in schools, libraries, sports facilities and other venues that will receive, train or accommodate minors. This measure was promised by the government at the end of 2023 and confirmed in late May by Health Minister Catherine Vautrin, with an initial implementation date of July 1 across France. After decades of glorifying tobacco, France is now launching its biggest smoking ban to date. The new restrictions, announced by Vautrin, will ban smoking in virtually all outdoor public spaces where children could gather, including beaches, parks, gardens, playgrounds, stadiums, school entrances and bus stops. "Tobacco must disappear where there are children," Vautrin told French media. The freedom to smoke "stops where the right of children to breathe clean air begins". While the Vautrin law reflects public health priorities, it also signals a deeper cultural shift. Smoking has defined French identity, fashion and cinema for so long that this new measure has the effect of a silent French revolution in a country whose relationship with tobacco is notoriously complex. According to the League against cancer, more than 90% of French films from 2015 to 2019 included scenes of smoking, more than double the rate seen in Hollywood productions. Each French film featured an average of nearly three minutes of smoking on screen, the equivalent of six 30-second TV adverts. Cinema had a particular influence: Belmondo's rebellious smoker in Jean-Luc Godard's "Breathless" became a symbol of youthful defiance the world over. Bardot's cigarette smoke floated in "And God Created Woman", symbolising unbridled sensuality. Yet this glamourisation has consequences. According to French health authorities, some 75,000 people die every year from tobacco-related illnesses. Although smoking rates have recently fallen - less than 25% of French adults now smoke daily, a historically low level - the habit remains deeply entrenched, particularly among young people and chic city dwellers. France's relationship with tobacco has long been full of contradictions. Air France only banned smoking on all its flights in 2000, years after the major US airlines began phasing it out in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This delay reflects the country's slowness to break with its cultural love affair with cigarettes, even at an altitude of 10,600 metres. Strolling through the elegant streets of the Marais, Paris' trendiest district, reactions to the smoking ban ranged from pragmatic acceptance to nostalgic defiance. "It's about time. I don't want my children to grow up thinking that smoking is romantic," said Clémence Laurent, a 34-year-old fashion buyer, sipping an espresso on the terrace of a crowded café. "It's true that Bardot made cigarettes glamorous. But Bardot didn't care about today's lung cancer warnings." In a neighbouring shop, second-hand goods dealer Luc Baudry, 53, saw the ban as an attack on an essentially French culture. "Smoking has always been part of our culture. If cigarettes are taken away from us, what do we have left? Kale smoothies?" he quipped. Opposite him, Jeanne Lévy, 72, giggled in a hoarse voice, deeply marked - she said - by decades of Gauloises cigarettes. "I smoked my first cigarette watching Jeanne Moreau," she confessed, her eyes sparkling behind vintage sunglasses. "It was her voice - smoky, sexy, lived-in. Who wouldn't want that voice?" Indeed, Jeanne Moreau's hoarse, nicotine-grated voice turned smoking into poetry, immortalised in classics like François Truffaut's "Jules et Jim". Smoking has acquired an existential prestige that has made quitting unimaginable for generations of French smokers. The new French law reflects wider European trends. Countries such as the United Kingdom and Sweden have already tightened regulations on smoking in public spaces. Sweden banned smoking on restaurant terraces, at bus stops and near school playgrounds in 2019. Spain, meanwhile, is extending its smoking ban to café and restaurant terraces, areas that remain exempt in France, at least for the time being. Smoking is now banned in outdoor and public areas in Milan, Italy's financial and fashion capital. This is the strictest extension of a series of bans that began in 2021 and are designed to "improve the city's air quality". Finally, the European Commission will recommend extending the smoking ban to café terraces, bus stops and zoos, and also plans to include nicotine-free products in the ban, according to a leaked document obtained by Euronews . On the Place des Vosges in Paris, arts student Thomas Bouchard clutched an electronic cigarette still exempt from the new ban and shrugged. "Maybe vaping is our compromise," he said, exhaling softly. "A little less sexy, maybe. But fewer wrinkles too."
Wales Online
26-06-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
Common object banned from public places starting July 1 in France
Common object banned from public places starting July 1 in France Starting July 1, the European nation will ban smoking in parks, on beaches, and at bus stops - all outdoor areas that can be accessed by children From July 1, France will ban smoking in outdoor areas frequented by children (Image: Getty ) France is gearing up to introduce a ban on smoking in public spaces, with the new rules set to come into effect from 1 July. The ban will cover parks, beaches, and bus stops – any outdoor areas frequented by children. The European country, known for its iconic image of smokers enjoying cigarettes on cafe terraces or strolling down quaint streets, has been steadily tightening restrictions on tobacco use in public places over recent years. The impending prohibition aims to curb not only the environmental impact of discarded cigarette ends but also the health hazards associated with second-hand smoke. Health and family minister Catherine Vautrin said: "Tobacco must disappear where there are children." She emphasised that the liberty to smoke "stops where children's right to breathe clean air starts". The upcoming ban also targets educational institutions, seeking to deter students from lighting up outside and nearby school premises. Ms Vautrin warned that violators could face fines up to €135 (£115), reports the Daily Record. Ms Vautrin assured that law enforcement would be responsible for enforcing the ban. French authorities are preparing to enforce the new rules vigorously, with signage and campaigns designed to foster adherence. This move on 1 July extends France's existing anti-smoking laws, which have banned smoking in eateries and nightclubs since 2008. Those who break the rules could be fined as much as €135 (£115) Article continues below Smoking is still permitted in outdoor areas of cafes and bars, and e-cigarettes are not currently included in the ban. However, France is reportedly set to introduce stricter vaping regulations soon. According to a BBC report, the UK government is considering similar measures. These could involve extending laws in England to cover outdoor areas such as playgrounds and hospital grounds to protect children and vulnerable individuals from the risks of secondhand smoke. Cigarette butts are reportedly the most common item found polluting beaches and waterways globally. In response to the impending ban, Chris Dorsett, Ocean Conservancy's Vice President of Conservation, highlighted the positive impact it will have on reducing ocean plastic pollution. Cigarette butts are the most commonly found item polluting beaches and waterways He said: "Not only does banning smoking in public places protect public health, but it will also make a huge impact on keeping our oceans and beaches clean. According to Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup data, cigarette butts are the number one most commonly found item polluting beaches and waterways in Europe and worldwide. "In addition to shedding dangerous microplastic fibers, cigarette butts also leach chemicals into the environment, harming sensitive marine ecosystems. We applaud France for taking this important step to protect people and the environment from the threat of cigarette pollution." Article continues below Since 1986, volunteers from the Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup have gathered a staggering 63 million cigarette butts globally. In the most recent year for which data is available, 2023, a total of 323,431 cigarette butts were collected solely from European beaches and waterways. Why is passive smoking harmful? Secondhand smoke, or passive smoking, is dangerous as it puts non-smokers in contact with the same harmful chemicals and cancer-causing agents present in cigarette smoke, raising their chances of developing different illnesses. This kind of exposure can result in respiratory problems, heart issues, and even cancer for those who don't smoke. Kids are especially at risk from the impacts of passive smoking because their bodies and airways are still growing.
Daily Record
26-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
France will ban common item from July 1 in most outdoor spaces
The ban will cover public places such as beaches, parks and bus stops France is set to enforce a ban on a common object in public spaces in just a few days. Starting July 1, the European nation will prohibit smoking in parks, on beaches, and at bus stops - all outdoor areas that can be accessed by children. Known for its smokers, hanging out with cigarettes on cafe patios or walking along cobblestone roads, France has been ramping up its restrictions on tobacco use in public areas over the last few years. The latest ban in five days time is hoped to not only reduce the pollution of cigarette butts, but also lessen the risks caused by passive smoking. Health and family minister Catherine Vautrin said: "Tobacco must disappear where there are children." She said that the freedom to smoke "stops where children's right to breathe clean air starts". The ban will also apply to schools, aiming to prevent students from smoking near them. According to Ms Vautrin, those who break the rules could be fined as much as €135 (£115). Ms Vautrin says that the police would uphold the ban, adding that the public would have the opportunity to "self-regulate." French officials are gearing up to actively implement the new regulations, complete with signs and public awareness initiatives to encourage compliance. The July 1 ban expands the existing smoking regulations in France, which have prohibited smoking in restaurants and nightclubs since 2008. People can still smoke in cafes' and bar terraces' outdoor spaces. As it stands, e-cigarettes (vapes) aren't part of this ban, although France is looking to tighten vaping rules soon. The UK government is said to be thinking about taking similar steps, according to a report by the BBC. Including potentially expanding laws in England to cover outdoor spots like playgrounds and hospital grounds to "shield kids and the most vulnerable from the dangers of second-hand smoke." According to data, cigarette butts are the most commonly found item polluting beaches and waterways worldwide. In response to the upcoming ban, Chris Dorsett, Ocean Conservancy's Vice President of Conservation, spoke about the positive impact the ban will have on ocean plastic pollution. He said: "Not only does banning smoking in public places protect public health, but it will also make a huge impact on keeping our oceans and beaches clean. According to Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup data, cigarette butts are the number one most commonly found item polluting beaches and waterways in Europe and worldwide. "In addition to shedding dangerous microplastic fibers, cigarette butts also leach chemicals into the environment, harming sensitive marine ecosystems. We applaud France for taking this important step to protect people and the environment from the threat of cigarette pollution." Since 1986, volunteers with Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup have collected 63 million cigarette butts worldwide. In 2023 – the most recent year for which the organisation has data for so far, 323,431 cigarette butts were collected from beaches and waterways in Europe alone.
