The French government today passed a decree banning smoking in all parks, bus stops, sporting events and around schools, effective Tuesday, July 1st.
New government measures have met with resistance, with smoking in restaurants, bars and public buildings banned by a series of decrees in 2007 and 2008, while a pack of cigarettes costs more than 12 euros on average.
Despite this, around 30 percent of French people still smoke almost daily, one of the highest rates in Europe and the world.
The Ministry of Health has expressed particular concern about the popularity of cigarettes among young people, with official statistics showing that around 15 percent of 17-year-olds smoke.
Illegal trading and reselling of cigarettes has also become common, mainly on the streets.
More than 200 people in France die every day from tobacco-related diseases, which amounts to around 75.000 people annually, French Health Minister Catherine Vautran said today.
The new ban does not apply to electronic cigarettes.
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