France Bans Smoking On Slopes

Skiers and snowboarders heading to the French Alps and Pyrenees this winter will face a significant change in mountain etiquette. France has officially implemented a nationwide ban on smoking across all ski resorts, covering slopes, ski lifts, and lift queues.

The new regulation, which comes into effect for the 2025/2026 ski season, marks the end of the traditional mid-slope cigarette break. Under the new measures, anyone caught lighting up in prohibited zones risks a fine of €135.

"Sports Facilities" Classification

The nationwide enforcement stems from Decree No. 2025-582, published on June 27, 2025. This legislation reclassifies outdoor ski areas—specifically slopes and mechanical lifts—as "sports facilities." This legal distinction brings ski resorts under the same strict anti-smoking laws that already govern stadiums, public pools, and playgrounds in France.

While ambiguity initially surrounded the decree, Domaines Skiables de France (DSF) and France Montagnes have confirmed the definitive nature of the rule.

"The decision is final," Vincent Jay, director of France Montagnes, confirmed to local press. "The ban applies to all ski slopes, regardless of altitude, all lift systems, and waiting lines."

Environmental and Safety Drivers

While public health and second-hand smoke in crowded lift queues are major factors, the ban is heavily driven by environmental concerns.

Mountain ecosystems are notoriously fragile, and cigarette butts are a primary source of pollution. According to the environmental group Mountain Riders, over 60,000 cigarette butts were recovered during a single cleanup operation in the French mountains.

"A single cigarette butt can contaminate up to one cubic meter of snow and 500 liters of water," a spokesperson for the environmental agency stated. "With snowmelt, the toxins from discarded filters leach directly into mountain streams and groundwater."

Fire safety is also a critical component, particularly during drier periods of the season or in wooded areas surrounding lower slopes.

The "Soft" Rollout

Recognizing the cultural shift this requires, resorts are launching the ban with a mix of enforcement and humor. France Montagnes has unveiled a campaign featuring slogans designed to encourage compliance without alienating visitors, such as:

• "The view is breathtaking enough as it is."
• "Extend your ski life expectancy."
• "We’re handing you a pole to help you quit."
• Designated Areas Only

Smokers will not be entirely exiled from the mountains. Resorts are establishing clearly marked designated smoking zones, typically located near mountain restaurants, bars, and the main resort villages. Smoking remains permitted on restaurant terraces, subject to the establishment's own rules, but is strictly forbidden once skiers step onto the snow or enter a lift queue.

• Public health: The government aims to protect children and non-smokers from passive smoke exposure in recreational areas.
• Environmental concerns: Cigarette butts are a major pollutant, often left behind in snow where they can leach harmful chemicals into alpine ecosystems.
• Cultural shift: France has steadily tightened tobacco laws since banning indoor smoking in bars and restaurants in 2007. This latest move underscores its ambition to create a “tobacco-free generation” by 2032EU Today.

What Skiers Need to Know

• Smoking is banned on pistes, lifts, and queues.
• Off-piste skiing and resort streets remain exempt.
• E-cigarettes are not included in the ban, meaning vaping is still allowed.
• Fines for violations are set at €135.
• Resorts are expected to designate limited smoking zones, though enforcement will focus on high-traffic areas like lift lines.

Some skiers welcome the cleaner air and litter-free slopes, while others criticize the restrictions as heavy-handed. Resort operators, however, see the ban as aligning with broader sustainability goals and enhancing the family-friendly image of French ski destinations.

This winter marks the first test of the ban’s effectiveness. Authorities will monitor compliance and public response, with the potential to expand restrictions further if successful. France’s move could also set a precedent for other European ski nations considering similar measures.

Following the Pioneer

The national ban follows the successful example set by the resort of Les Gets in the Haute-Savoie region. Les Gets became the first European resort to ban smoking on its slopes in 2022.

"The feedback from Les Gets has been excellent, even from smokers," noted a resort official. "It proved that a smoke-free mountain is not only possible but preferred by the vast majority of families and skiers."

France’s ski resorts are now at the forefront of a public health and environmental experiment. Whether the ban becomes a model for other alpine countries will depend on how skiers adapt to smoke-free slopes this season.