Are e-cigarettes banned on beaches?

Summer is here, towels are spread out, ice creams are melting, and your e-cigarette is with you under the beach umbrella, ready to produce a refreshing little cloud… Since July 1st, 2025, a new law has come into force: smoking a traditional cigarette on French beaches is now banned; what about vaping? Is it affected? Can you vape on every sun lounger facing the ocean? Let's take stock.

An anti-tobacco law… but not an anti-vape one

The new legislation adopted in 2025 targets smoked tobacco exclusively: cigarettes, cigars, roll-ups, etc. The goal? Reduce cigarette butt pollution, protect children from secondhand smoke, and promote a healthier environment in leisure spaces.

E-cigarettes are not affected by this national law.
In plain terms: you still have the right to vape on a beach… unless a local by-law says otherwise.

Vaping on the beach: what municipal by-laws say

While vaping falls outside national law, some municipalities have taken the initiative by explicitly banning the use of e-cigarettes on their beaches.

In these municipalities, the e-cigarette is treated as tobacco or deemed inappropriate in family and natural spaces. And this ban is in force every summer, or even year-round, depending on the town.

Here are the beaches where vaping is banned by municipal order:

• 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 of the Bassin d'Arcachon

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

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

Good question! If you're unsure, check the information signs at the entrance or around the beach.

The ban on smoking or vaping must be clearly indicated by pictograms or municipal signs.
These visuals will tell you whether:

• The beach is 100% smoke-free (often managed in partnership with the Cancer League),
• Or whether vaping is also banned in that area.

Vaping and common sense: the best combination

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

• Avoid vaping near children or non-smokers
• Choose less crowded areas so as not to bother other holidaymakers
• Opt for discreet equipment and a light vapor (and leave your sub-ohm kit resting at the hotel)

So this summer, enjoy your holiday in complete peace of mind, always keeping an eye on the information signs near the beaches.
And for everything else, Le Vapoteur Discount is always here to offer you discreet equipment, low-vapor e-liquids, and responsible vaping advice, even under the beach umbrella!

Also, check out our article E-cigarettes in summer: the right habits