Goodbye to smoking in parks and on beaches: The European country that has declared war on smoking in public

Even if you haven’t been there, you can still picture it: a Parisian lounging by the Seine, cigarette in hand, smoke curling into the sky like some kind of cultural cliché. But as of this summer, that iconic image, might cost the protagonist.

What’s the new France smoking law?

As of July 1, lighting up a cigarette in outdoor spaces like public parks, beaches, school entrances, and bus stops comes with more than just an occasional dirty look – it comes with a fine. And not a small one either. Smokers in violation face a penalty of €90 if paid quickly, or €135 (around $150) if they drag their feet.

The crackdown is part of a sweeping plan from President Emmanuel Macron, who’s aiming for a “tobacco-free generation” by 2032. It’s also a bold pivot for a country historically tied to its cigarette culture – think Brigitte Bardot, Jean-Paul Sartre, or any black-and-white French film... ever.

Some Parisians are, ahem, fuming. “Why should smoking suddenly be treated like a crime?” asked one 25-year-old student, via CNN. Others see it as just another way for the state to collect cash. But public health officials aren’t backing down, calling tobacco “poison” that kills 75,000 people a year in France alone.

Once synonymous with cigarettes, France now leads Europe in outdoor tobacco restrictions – and yes, that includes American tourists under the Eiffel Tower.

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