Under a scorching sun, people who came to sunbathe at Palavas-les-Flots, near Montpellier, have this summer had to adapt to a new decree, as smoking on the beach has been banned since June 29. This nationwide measure is causing some regulars to grumble, caught between defending individual freedom and measures to combat pollution and protect public health.
Reactions to the cigarette ban on French beaches have been mixed, with some applauding the decision, while others have launched fierce criticism. “It’s nonsense, we have no freedom anymore!” lauded Sandra, in her fifties, who has lived in Palavas-les-Flots for two years, having learnt of the news while finishing her cigarette, according to the Herault Tribune. “I like to smoke my cigarette on the beach after a meal… I put my butts aside and then throw them in the bin when I leave the beach.”
According to La Depeche, Inès from Narbonne said: “I’m not a smoker, but I consider it an infringement on freedom. Being monitored for what we do in parks or on beaches is outrageous.” For her, common sense should prevail. “Smokers need to adapt, yes, but there’s no need to change the law so drastically.”
“We’re being infantilised! There’s no need to ban it outright. If I see kids around, I’ll move away; that’s all there is to it. Why does the state bother us in public places?” questioned Lambert, also from Narbonne. “It feels like we’re back in Covid times […] Honestly, aren’t there more serious issues?”
The decree, published in the Official Journal on June 28, states that smoking is now prohibited in several outdoor public places, including beaches, parks and school entrances and bus stops. Any violation could result in a fine of €135 (£116), which can go up to €750 (£647). While 90% of smokers start before age 18, the French Government has introduced new bans that “explicitly target daily socialisation places for young people.”
“The goal is to help denormalise tobacco and limit its social attractiveness. These bans also aim to preserve the environment, notably by limiting waste related to cigarette butts,” stated the government. Each year, between 20,000 and 25,000 tonnes of cigarette butts are abandoned, while just one can pollute up to 500 litres of water.
Not all are against the ban, however, with many criticising smoking on the beach as selfish, but also harmful to both wildlife and people: “I think this ban is legitimate for the environment and for the planet, but also for other non-smokers on the beach; one should not be selfish,” said Max, a smoker. “I understand it can bother people. Here, I have the sea in front of me. If I want to smoke, I’ll go back up to the promenade.”
“Smokers expose us to cancer, but it’s also pollution for seagulls or fish,” added Inès, one of two young students from the area.
In France, tobacco consumption kills 75,000 people each year, representing more than 200 deaths per day. Globally, tobacco smoke, even outdoors, is responsible for 1.2 million premature deaths annually, according to the WHO.
“Where there are children, tobacco must disappear. A park, a beach, a school, these are places to play, learn, breathe; not to smoke,” Catherine Vautrin, Minister of Labour and Health, had previously explained.