France has banned smoking in public places. France's health minister said: "These are places to play, learn, and breathe; not for smoking." She added that children have a right to breathe clean air. People who smoke in parks and on beaches will now be breaking the law. The ban will protect children from passive smoking, which is breathing in smoke from other people who are smoking. France wants a tobacco-free generation by 2032.

Smoking is falling in France. However, passive smoking still kills 5,000 people a year. Most French people support a smoking ban, even in restaurants. Smoking is a leading cause of disease and death. It can damage nearly every organ of the body. Cigarette smoke harms children's developing bodies. When children breathe in second-hand smoke, they can have breathing problems. It can damage their lungs.