THIS European country to ban outdoor smoking from July 1, violators to be fined up to…

In a view to improve the health of children, this European country has decided to ban smoking in public from July 1. It is also an attempt to limit tobacco use in public spaces. The ban will cover a wide range of outdoor locations, such as beaches, public gardens, areas outside schools, and public transportation stops.

According to the government, the public areas that may be frequented by children, including beaches, parks, bus stops, and sports venues and in order to look after their health, the government has taken this decision. The country is France.

Health and Family Minister Catherine Vautrin while announcing said, “Tobacco must disappear where there are children,” Vautrin told the regional daily Ouest-France. Emphasising the government’s commitment to protecting minors from exposure to cigarette smoke, she said the freedom to smoke “stops where children’s right to breathe clean air starts.”

The ban will cover a wide range of outdoor locations, such as beaches, public gardens, areas outside schools, and public transportation stops. However, cafe terraces will not be subject to the new rules, and electronic cigarettes will also be excluded.

According to the French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, 23.1% of the French population smokes on a daily basis – the lowest percentage ever recorded, and a fall of over five points since 2014.

France’s National Committee Against Smoking says more than 75,000 smokers die each year of tobacco-related illnesses – 13% of all deaths. Smoking in establishments like restaurants and nightclubs has been banned in France since 2008.

News