The governments of France and Spain have announced new measures to combat tobacco addiction, aimed at significantly tightening smoking restrictions in public areas. The news was reported by French broadcaster BFMTV and Spanish newspaper El País.
French Minister of Labour and Health, Catherine Vautrin, stated that starting July 1, the list of places where smoking is prohibited will be significantly expanded. The new regulations will include:
Beaches
Public parks and gardens
Areas near schools
Bus stops
Sports grounds across the country
The minister added that smoking causes 75,000 deaths annually in France — equivalent to more than 200 deaths per day. It remains the leading preventable cause of death in the country.
Vautrin noted that the details of the proposal are still being finalized, particularly regarding the perimeter around educational institutions where smoking will be banned. The current initiative does not cover electronic cigarettes, though related measures are also being considered.
Meanwhile, Spain’s Ministry of Health has prepared a draft law that would further expand smoke-free zones. The new restrictions are set to apply to:
Café and restaurant terraces
Bus stops
Company transport vehicles
University campuses
Areas around schools
Community swimming pools
Public recreational spaces
The ban will cover not only traditional tobacco products but also electronic devices such as vapes and heated tobacco products.
