As France tightens smoking ban, what are the laws around Europe?

France plans to ban smoking on beaches, in parks, outside schools and in other locations from July to protect children, the government said.

The ban, which follows similar measures across an increasingly smoking-averse Europe, will exempt cafe outdoor terraces and will not apply to electronic cigarettes.

"Where there are children, tobacco must disappear," Health and Families Minister Catherine Vautrin said in an interview with the Ouest France newspaper late on Thursday.

"From July 1, beaches, public parks and gardens, school areas, bus shelters, and sports facilities will be smoke-free throughout France. Smoking will therefore be prohibited there, to protect our children."

Vautrin said smoking kills around 200 people every day in France.

Smoking in France is at historic lows, according to a report published this month by the French Observatory for Drugs and Addictive Trends. It found that just under a quarter of people aged 18-75 smoked daily, the lowest since it began keeping records in the late 1990s.

The UK announced a similar smoking ban last year. Some Spanish regions have banned smoking on beaches, while Sweden has outlawed smoking in outdoor restaurant terraces, bus stops, train platforms and schoolyards since 2019.

Smoking bans in other European countries:

Austria: Smoking banned in all enclosed public spaces, including bars and restaurants, since a strict ban was reintroduced in 2019. In venues larger than 50 sq m, enclosed smoking rooms are permitted as long as they do not allow smoke to penetrate non-smoking areas.

Bulgaria: Total ban on smoking in all public places. 

Czechia: Prohibited in closed spaces, with exceptions for structurally separated smoking areas. Also banned in schools and public transport, and local municipalities can extend bans to playgrounds and sports venues.

Denmark: Banned in most public spaces, including workplaces and public transport, with exceptions for designated smoking rooms or cabins. Small bars with a serving area smaller than 40 sq m may permit smoking.

Finland: Prohibited in workplaces and public spaces, with allowances for designated smoking rooms meeting specific ventilation standards. Outdoor smoking banned near childcare and educational facilities. 

Germany: Bans are implemented at the state level, generally prohibiting smoking in public spaces while allowing separate smoking rooms. Complete bans exist in certain states like Bavaria, with some exemptions for smaller establishments that do not serve food.

Greece: Total ban in public places, with exceptions made for large entertainment centers and casinos. 

Italy: Banned in public places, including workplaces and restaurants, with allowances for ventilated smoking rooms covering less than half the serving area.

Netherlands: Banned in enclosed public spaces, with exceptions for designated smoking rooms, while outdoor smoking is permitted.

Poland: Banned in most public places, including workplaces and public transport, with exceptions for designated smoking rooms. Restaurants and bars may allow smoking in rooms with proper ventilation that prevent smoke from spreading.

Spain: Banned in public places, with exceptions for private smoking clubs. Barcelona banned smoking on beaches in 2022. Andalusia, the Balearics, the Canaries, Galicia and Valencia have partial or total bans on beach smoking.

Sweden: Banned indoors in restaurants since 2005. A 2019 extension includes outdoor areas such as outdoor restaurant terraces and several public outdoor spaces such as bus stops, train platforms, entrances of public buildings, schoolyards, playgrounds and sports fields. 

UK: A 2024 bill, which passed the lower house but awaits upper-chamber confirmation, would ban smoking outside schools, hospitals and playgrounds – and ban children born since 2009 from ever being able to buy cigarettes.