As per a new ban introduced by the relevant authorities in France, tourists and residents will no longer be permitted to smoke at beaches across the country.
According to the government, this ban will be a national effort to encourage people to give up the habit of smoking.
In the announcement made regarding the ban, French authorities stated that from the year 2024, they would be starting a four-year campaign to discourage the use of tobacco.
Moreover, the authorities revealed that anyone who violated the rule would be fined. However, the authorities have yet to disclose what the penalty for smoking in public spaces would be.
As per the announcement, the restrictions will especially extend to places, such as green areas, schools, as well as government-owned forests.
Anti-tobacco
According to sources, there is an estimate of around 7,200 zones in the country that have been stipulated to be free of tobacco.
Woodland is one of the areas in this category, which is located in southern France, is at risk of being affected by wildfires.
It was further revealed that the price of a pack of cigarettes in the country is likely to reach the 13th position in 2027.
Moreover, the authorities added that they will be banning disposable e-cigarettes as well in their bid to reduce smoking.
Smoking will be banned in all public spaces, which will include forests, parks, as well as beaches.
Consequently, France is hoping to move towards a direction that enables it to become a tobacco-free generation by the time 2032 rolls around.
Tobacco
On the occasion, Aurelien Rousseau, the Health Minister of the country, gave a speech saying that tobacco is a major reason why people tend to fall ill.
In his words, the substance leads to preventable mortality, and France will no longer pay a heavy price for people smoking.
Smoking is believed to be the top cause of preventable death across the country. As it stands, the habit takes around 75,000 lives every year.
In addition, it is one of the leading causes of premature death before the age of 65, as revealed by the Health Minister.
He went on to add that irrespective of the figures, the use of the substance on a daily basis related to 12 million people living in France, as well as those who travel to the country each year.
Eurostat
The EU Office for Statistics, Eurostat, revealed that the number of daily smokers in France is higher than the overall average in the EU.
The organization pointed out that, specifically, at least 22.2% of people who are 15 years old and above tend to smoke daily in France.
However, in the EU, this figure stands at 19.7%, which has caused the French authorities to spring into action in a bid to lower this figure.
As a result, cigarette prices are expected to go up gradually. Each pack is now likely to cost around €12 in 2025 and €13 by the time 2027 begins.
As of now, one pack of cigarettes in France can be bought for somewhere between €10 and €11.
