PARIS (AP) — France is set to implement its most sweeping smoking ban to date on July 1, which will impose fines of up to €135 ($153) for smoking in nearly all outdoor public spaces frequented by children. This measure is a significant cultural shift for a nation where smoking has long been intertwined with its cinematic identity, symbolized by icons such as Brigitte Bardot and Jean-Paul Belmondo. Bardot's laid-back beach scenes and Belmondo’s rebellious figures in cinema encapsulated a lifestyle that glamorized tobacco usage.
The announcement by Health Minister Catherine Vautrin reflects a growing public health priority in France, where tobacco use remains a persistent issue. The new legislation aims to prohibit smoking in various public areas where children gather, including beaches, parks, playgrounds, school entrances, and bus stops. Vautrin remarked, "Tobacco must disappear where there are children," emphasizing that the freedom to smoke should not infringe on children's right to breathe clean air.
This policy shift signals a deeper cultural transformation in France, historically known for its complicated relationship with tobacco. Recent studies conducted by France's League Against Cancer indicate that over 90 percent of French films released between 2015 and 2019 featured smoking scenes, a stark contrast to Hollywood standards. Each French film showcased approximately three minutes of smoking on screen—equivalent to the exposure from six 30-second television advertisements. This has positioned cinema as a strong influence in shaping public perception around smoking.
Despite a decline in smoking rates—now at less than 25% of adults smoking daily—tobacco-related illnesses still claim roughly 75,000 lives annually in France. The new law mirrors similar efforts across Europe, with countries like Britain, Spain, and Sweden enacting stringent smoking bans in public spaces. Sweden implemented its ban on cigarette use in outdoor restaurant terraces and schoolyards as early as 2019, while Spain has extended its regulations to café terraces.
Reactions to the imminent ban in Paris reflect a mix of acceptance and defiance. Many in the stylish Le Marais district recognize the importance of public health, with individuals like 34-year-old fashion buyer Clémence Laurent expressing relief that future generations won’t associate smoking with romance. On the contrary, 53-year-old vintage dealer Luc Baudry sees the ban as an attack on French culture, questioning what would be left without cigarettes, joking about a shift toward “kale smoothies.”
Meanwhile, 72-year-old Jeanne Lévy, who has been longtime smoker herself, reminisces about the glamorous portrayal of smoking in classic French cinema, admitting, “I smoked my first cigarette watching Jeanne Moreau.” Such sentiments connect the act of smoking to a cultural nostalgia woven into the fabric of French identity, complicating the narrative around the new restrictions.
As cities adjust to this new reality, many individuals are turning to alternatives like electronic cigarettes, which remain unregulated under the new law. Literature student Thomas Bouchard, clutching a vaping device in a Paris park, said, “Maybe vaping’s our compromise... fewer wrinkles too.”
Ultimately, the implementation of France's smoking ban marks a pivotal moment, indicative of a significant cultural evolution in a country renowned for its romanticized portrayal of smoking. It illustrates the ongoing tension between public health initiatives and national identity shaped through decades of cinematic legacy.
