Flash smoking has been banned on French beaches as the country introduced a ban to help people quit smoking. France will launch a four-year anti-tobacco plan from 2024. Fines could be imposed on those who violate the rules, especially in places such as schools, national forests and green spaces, although authorities have not yet released details. It is estimated that there are around 7,200 tobacco-free zones in the country, including forests in southern France that are at risk of wildfires. According to Euronews, the price of a pack of cigarettes in France will reach 13th place in 2027, and disposable e-cigarettes will be banned. Additionally, smoking is prohibited in public places such as parks, beaches, and forests. This European country aims to create a "tobacco-free" generation by 2032. It is considered that smoking is the top cause of preventable death in France, which takes the lives of 75,000 people per year. In addition, smoking is the top cause of premature death before 65 years old, as the health minister pointed out. He also said that despite the figures, the daily use of tobacco concerns around 12 million French people, which is a quarter of the adult population. Eurostat, the EU Office for Statistics reveals that the daily percentage share of smokers in France is higher than the EU average. More specifically, around 22.2 per cent of people aged 15 and older smoke daily in France compared to 19.7 per cent which is the average of smokers in the EU. Prices of cigarettes are expected to rise gradually – with a pack costing €12 in 2025 and €13 in 2027, the government said. A pack is currently priced between €10-11. Tobacco costs the state around €156 billion, including the economic value of lives lost, the loss of quality of life for patients with cancer caused by smoking and state spending on prevention and care. France is not the only European country to introduce such measures as countries like Ireland, Hungary, Greece and Malta already have already implemented such measures. Moreover, some cities such as Barcelona have banned smoking on beaches in an effort to stop cigarette butt littering. More than 100 of the country’s over 3,000 beaches introduced a ban in July including places such as the Costa del Sol and Balearic islands.