Smokers & Smoking in France

Information on the laws of February 2007 and January 2008 concerning the banning of smoking in public places in France: schools, public transport, hospitals, administrative buildings, office buildings and youth recreation areas. Find out more.

On 1 February 2007 additional smoking restrictions came into effect in France. The primary objective of these bans is to limit non-smokers' exposure to passive smoking in public or communal places.

It is forbidden to smoke in the following places:

Offices/the workplace: In any office building, in both private offices and communal areas (reception and board rooms, canteens, washrooms, gym and sports areas)
Public transport: On any public transport (trains, trams, ferries, buses, ski lifts)
Schools: Anywhere on the property - indoors and outdoor grounds - of schools, and colleges
Leisure venues: At the sport and recreation facilities used by children under 18 years. Indoors and outdoors sport arenas, fields, gymnasia and halls used by schools, colleges or children's associations
Administrative buildings: The public access areas and individual offices, passageways and waiting rooms of all administrative buildings. Where a specific smoking area is not provided, smokers (staff and visitors) may only smoke outside
Medical facilities: In hospitals, clinics and other medical facilities (except in private hospital rooms where conditions apply)

In January 2008 the ban extended to all other indoor public spaces: coffee bars and cafés, hotels, restaurants, discotheques and tobacconists.