Reminder over ban on smoking at French ski resorts
Summer decree banning smoking on beaches and public gardens also covers ski slopes, lifts and queues on pistes
The ban stems from a decree passed this June
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Smokers are being reminded that lighting up a cigarette is now forbidden on ski slopes due to regulations passed earlier this year.
Skiers who fail to comply with the new regulations can be fined up to €135. This does not apply to vapers as e-cigarettes are not included in the ban.
Ski slopes began to open last weekend, including the popular Val Thorens and Tignes resorts. Many more are set to follow in the coming weeks.
Ski resorts covered by smoking ban
In June 2025, a decree banning smoking in public areas made headlines across France, forming a key part of then-Health Minister Catherine Vautrin’s crusade on smoking near children.
The approaching summer weather meant the highlight of the ban focused on warmer outdoor spots, noticeably beaches and gardens, as well as in bus shelters and near schools.
Largely overlooked however was that the ban also applies to major sections of ski resorts.
The decree bans smoking on lifts, slopes, and in queues for pistes.
In 2022 Les Gets (Haute-Savoie) became one of the first ski resorts in France to ban smoking on the slopes, and was followed by others including Crest-Voland (Savoie) before the national overhaul this year.
Resorts may now include designated smoking areas to concentrate where people can smoke outside.
Anti-smoking campaign on way
Tourist group France Montagnes has been working with ski resorts to prepare reminders for holidaymakers about the new rules, which largely went under the radar at the time,
“France Montagnes took up the issue and offered all the resorts and their stakeholders a communication campaign to raise awareness,” said the company’s director Vincent Jay to media outlet Le Dauphiné Libéré.
Humorous slogans such as ‘La vue vous coupe assez le souffle comme ça’ (the view takes your breath away enough as it is) and ‘on vous tend des perches pour arrêter’ (we’re giving you the opportunities to stop [but using a ski pole pun]) are set to be included in the information campaign, Mr Jay said.
The ban should also help with cleaning up ski resorts.
Last year, more than 57,000 cigarette butts were cleared from resorts, and butts remain one of the top three littered items in France.
