E-cigarettes banned on beaches?

Summer is well and truly here: towels are laid out, ice creams are melting, and your e-cigarette is with you under the parasol, ready to produce a refreshing little cloud… Since 1 July 2025, a new law has come into force: it is now forbidden to smoke a conventional cigarette on French beaches; but what about vaping? Is it affected? Can you vape on every sun lounger facing the ocean? Let’s take a look.

An anti-smoking law… but not an anti-vaping law

The new legislation adopted in 2025 applies exclusively to smoked tobacco: cigarettes, cigars, roll-ups, etc. The aim? To reduce cigarette-butt pollution, protect children from passive smoking and promote a healthier environment in places of relaxation.

E-cigarettes are not covered by this national law.
In short: you are still allowed to vape on a beach… unless a local by-law states otherwise.

Vaping on the beach: what municipal by-laws say

While vaping is not covered by the national law, some municipalities have taken the initiative by explicitly banning the use of e-cigarettes on their beaches.

In these municipalities, e-cigarettes are treated in the same way as tobacco or considered inappropriate in family and natural spaces. This ban is in force every summer, or even all year round, depending on the town.

Here are the beaches where vaping is prohibited by municipal by-law:

• La Ciotat
• Cagnes-sur-Mer
• Sanary-sur-Mer
• Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer
• Bonnegrâce Beach (Six-Fours-les-Plages)
• Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer
• All beaches in La Rochelle (during the summer season)
• Narbonne-Plage
• All beaches in Leucate
• All beaches in the Arcachon Basin

In these areas, using an e-cigarette may expose you to a fine ranging from €35 to €150.

How do I know whether I can vape on a beach?

Good question! If in doubt, check the information signs at the entrance to or around the beach.

The ban on smoking or vaping must be clearly displayed through pictograms or municipal notices.
These signs will tell you whether:

• The beach is 100% tobacco-free (often managed in partnership with the Ligue contre le cancer),
• Or whether vaping is also prohibited in this area.

Vaping and common sense: the best combination

Even if vaping is permitted on many beaches, a few rules of courtesy apply:

• Avoid vaping near children or non-smokers
• Choose less crowded areas so as not to disturb other holidaymakers
• Choose discreet equipment and light vapour (and let your sub-ohm kit rest at the hotel)

So this summer, enjoy your holiday with complete peace of mind, while always keeping an eye on information signs around beaches.
And for everything else, Le Vapoteur Discount is always here to offer you discreet equipment, e-liquids with light vapour, and responsible vaping advice, even under the parasol!

Also, discover our article E-cigarettes in summer: good habits to adopt