France to ban smoking on beaches, parks and near schoolsVautrin added that "the freedom to smoke must end where the freedom of children to breathe fresh air begins". The ban will come into force on 1 July and will include beaches, parks, public gardens, outside schools, bus stops and sports venues. France will ban smoking in all outdoor places that can be frequented by children, health and family minister Catherine Vautrin has said. Widespread measures to ban smoking on beaches, parks and other public places were meant to kick in in 2024, but the decree needed to was never adopted. However, more than 1,500 municipalities have already voluntarily banned smoking in public places, and hundreds of beaches across France have been non-smoking for several years.