Latest news with #tobacco
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Health
- Yahoo
France to ban smoking in parks, beaches, and near schools
PARIS (AP) — 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 énd 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. ___ Angela Charlton in Paris contributed. Jeffrey Schaeffer, The Associated Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Health
- Associated Press
France to ban smoking in parks, beaches, and near schools
PARIS (AP) — 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 énd 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. ___ Angela Charlton in Paris contributed.
Malay Mail
4 hours ago
- Health
- Malay Mail
France bans smoking on beaches, parks and near schools to protect kids from passive smoke; excludes cafe terraces
PARIS, June 2 — France will ban smoking on beaches and in parks, public gardens and bus shelters from Sunday, the government said. The decree, published in the official government gazette on Saturday, will also ban smoking outside libraries, swimming pools and schools, and is aimed at protecting children from passive smoking. The decree did not mention electronic cigarettes. Violaters of the ban will face a fine of 135 euros (RM668). 'Tobacco must disappear from places where there are children,' Health and Family Minister Catherine Vautrin had said in May, underscoring 'the right of children to breathe pure air'. Cafe terraces are excluded from the ban. Some 75,000 people are estimated to die from tobacco-related complications each year in France. According to a recent opinion survey, six out of 10 French people (62 percent) favour a smoking ban in public places. — AFP
Malay Mail
6 hours ago
- Health
- Malay Mail
France bans smoking on beaches, parks and near schools to protect kids from passive smoke — cafe terraces excluded
PARIS, June 2 — France will ban smoking on beaches and in parks, public gardens and bus shelters from Sunday, the government said. The decree, published in the official government gazette on Saturday, will also ban smoking outside libraries, swimming pools and schools, and is aimed at protecting children from passive smoking. The decree did not mention electronic cigarettes. Violaters of the ban will face a fine of 135 euros (RM668). 'Tobacco must disappear from places where there are children,' Health and Family Minister Catherine Vautrin had said in May, underscoring 'the right of children to breathe pure air'. Cafe terraces are excluded from the ban. Some 75,000 people are estimated to die from tobacco-related complications each year in France. According to a recent opinion survey, six out of 10 French people (62 percent) favour a smoking ban in public places. — AFP
Al Arabiya
6 hours ago
- Health
- Al Arabiya
France bans smoking in beaches, in parks and bus shelters
France will ban smoking on beaches and in parks, public gardens and bus shelters from Sunday, the government said. The decree, published in the official government gazette on Saturday, will also ban smoking outside libraries, swimming pools and schools, and is aimed at protecting children from passive smoking. The decree did not mention electronic cigarettes. Violators of the ban will face a fine of 135 euros ($158). 'Tobacco must disappear from places where there are children,' Health and Family Minister Catherine Vautrin had said in May, underscoring 'the right of children to breathe pure air.' Cafe terraces are excluded from the ban. Some 75,000 people are estimated to die from tobacco-related complications each year in France. According to a recent opinion survey, six out of 10 French people (62 percent) favor a smoking ban in public places.
