Smoking is banned in transport stations, parks and on beaches in France in a bid to reduce second-hand smoke and protect children.

France has extended smoking bans in bus stops, parks and beaches in a bid to discourage the unhealthy habit. The new rules also cover areas around schools and sports facilities. People who break the rules will be fined, with a penalty of around €135. The ban does not apply to e-cigarettes and smoking remains allowed on bar terraces. Smoking is responsible for 75,000 deaths a year in France, and the number of smokers has fallen significantly over the past two decades.