Industry News
France is rolling out one of the most sweeping anti-smoking measures ever applied to winter sports: smoking will now be prohibited across all ski resorts on lifts, in lift queues, and even on the slopes themselves. After months of ambiguity surrounding a new French public-health decree, local media have confirmed that decree No. 2025-582 does in fact apply to France’s expansive ski areas, ending the uncertainty that lingered since summer.
The decree, published on June 27 2025, classifies ski slopes and ski lifts as “sports facilities”, placing them under the same legal framework as stadiums, pools, and other athletic venues in which smoking is banned. While Domaines Skiables de France (DSF), the country’s ski-area operators association, initially requested clarification on how broadly the decree would be applied, French newspapers Le Dauphiné Libéré and La Depeche reported this week that the decision is final. Any skier lighting a cigarette this winter risks a minimum fine of €135.
Vincent Jay, director of France Montagnes—the umbrella organisation representing French mountain tourism—confirmed to Le Dauphiné that the ruling is definitive and is being taken seriously by resort operators. He noted that the decree passed “almost unnoticed” over the summer, when it was introduced and applied to places such as beaches and parks. He acknowledged that the implications of the decree are significant enough to require wider national communication efforts. France Montagnes is now launching a nationwide campaign to make sure visitors understand the new rules before heading out onto the snow.
The law’s scope is broader than many had anticipated. The smoking ban applies to:
- Ski lifts, including open-air chairlifts
- Queues and waiting areas
- All ski slopes, regardless of altitude or terrain
The regulation does not apply to designated smoking areas in villages or near restaurants, although these vary by resort and are subject to local signage.
Because the rule is being enforced abruptly at the start of the season, resorts are opting for a gentle approach rather than strict policing. France Montagnes has created humorous posters to encourage behaviour change without alienating guests. Visitors may spot wordplay-heavy slogans such as:
- “On vous tend des perches pour arrêter” (“We’re handing you a pole to help you quit”)
- “Allongez votre espérance de ski” (“Extend your ski life expectancy”)
The campaign aims to ease skiers into the transition during the first weeks of winter.
Public health is only part of the motivation. Environmental concerns—especially cigarette butt pollution—played a decisive role. During a recent cleanup organized by Mountain Riders, more than 60,000 cigarette butts were collected. Aside from being unsightly, cigarette butts are harmful to ground water and one cigarette butt can contaminate 1,000 liters of water.
Some French ski destinations have already played with various levels of smoking bans in the past. French resort Les Gets introduced its own smoke-free policy in 2022, and according to the resort director, public reaction—even among smokers—has been “excellent.” Those results helped strengthen the argument for a nationwide measure.
Visitors heading to the French Alps or Pyrenees this winter should prepare for fully smoke-free mountain environments. While lighting up on the slopes or lifts is now illegal, smokers will still be able to find limited outdoor areas in resort villages or near mountain restaurants, provided they comply with local signage.
It’s ridiculous that people actually still smoke. Seems like a base lack of intelligence.