A new smoke-free beach in Cagnes-sur-Mer
Following the lead of parks in Strasbourg and Paris, certain French beaches are starting to ban public smoking. Since July 1, 2018, the town of Cagnes-Sur-Mer has been trying out new legislation, between epi #10 and #11.
The experiment, launched in partnership with the League Against Cancer, will end on August 31. But smokers should not get too excited, for if the project is deemed effective, it could be renewed and even adopted in other towns next year.
The beach smoking ban is a logical continuation of the 2015 law that seeks to protect children by prohibiting smoking in parks. These new measures are not only meant to help non-smokers, however, as they are meant to encourage respect of the environment by forcing smokers to stop throwing their cigarette butts on the beach.
A measure focused on progressive thinking
The mayor of Cagnes, Louis Nègre, showed his commitment to fighting smoking addiction by enacting a municipal court filing. Although of course he hopes that locals and tourists will respect the ban, his primary goal is education. Enforcement of the law will not carry any penalties, but will rather be limited to a reminder by police about the new legislation. The mayor wants to act quickly but also delicately, without trying to rip smokers away from their life-long habit.
But cigarettes are not the only things to be banned on the beaches of Cagnes this summer. In fact, the use of hookahs as well as electronic cigarettes will also be banned. Louis Nègre is certainly interested in educating his town about tobacco addiction, but he does not seem to recognize the difference between the differences between cigarettes and e-cigarettes …
The anti-tobacco beach in Cagnes follows in the foosteps of beaches like Villeneuve-Loubet, Saint Laurent, Nice, Antibes, and Cannes. In a few years time, it is possible that all Mediterranean beaches will fall into line. For the time being, however, it is unclear whether or not such a smoking ban will be enforced next year. Indeed, the town has to wait until the end of August to see the results.
