Large majority will ban smoking on beaches and at bus stops

Smoking should be banned in public places such as beaches, parks, and bus stops.

A large majority of Danes believe this, according to a new survey.

France introduced smoking bans in June on places such as beaches, parks, bus stops, and within a 10-meter radius from libraries, swimming pools, and schools.

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> We've just caught up with the French politicians. I think that Danish politicians should think a little more

> Nina Krogh Larsen, Cancer Society

And if you ask Danes, is there support for introducing the same ban here at home.

In the survey, conducted by Epinion for DR, 59% say there should be a similar ban in Denmark.

29% are against, while 12% do not know what they think.

The French ban is part of a new law aimed at protecting children from passive smoking, which went into effect just before the summer school break.

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Shouldn't be normal

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And particularly in relation to children and young people, a ban can make a lot of sense, according to an expert.

It's not so much about passive smoking, but about removing the sight of cigarettes from places where children and young people gather, sounds like it from Lotus Sofie Bast, who is a senior researcher in tobacco prevention at the National Institute of Public Health.

- It's really about signal values.

- When we send our children to play in the water, and they eat an ice cream, it's completely unnatural to me that they should also see adults sitting and smoking, she says.

The less normal smoking is, the less children perceive smoking as, the less the risk of them starting to smoke, sounds like it.

Therefore, there are also more places where it could be appropriate to ban smoking, she thinks.

- Now we have made sure that their school life as far as possible is smoke-free and nicotine-free. It could be really nice if we could also make sure that their leisure time is also tobacco-free, she says and points to examples such as sports facilities.

© Scanpix Denmark

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About the survey

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The survey is based on a total of 1,005 conducted interviews with representative selected Danes over 18 years. The survey was conducted by Epinion for DR as a web-based panel survey in the period 27. June to 1. July 2025. The maximum margin of error is +/- 3.1 percentage points.

In France, it now results in fines of between 135 and 700 euros - about 1,000 to 5,000 kroner - if one sneaks a cigarette on the beach.

This does not apply to restaurants and bars, and it does not apply to e-cigarettes.

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France's Overhaul

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In Cancer Society, they also see the possibility of introducing such a ban in Denmark. It says project manager Nina Krogh Larsen.

Visibility is one of the levers that one can turn on if one wants fewer to smoke - just like price, availability, and the possibility of smoking cessation courses.

- We copy each other, and children and young people copy the behavior they see around them.

- They are in the process of forming their identity. There is a bit of rebellion. So if we can protect them and prevent smoking and nicotine from being part of their environments, it will reduce the number who will smoke, she says.

She also points to that one should generally ban smoking in places where children and young people gather a lot. Because it is them, one should set in front of.

- I don't think anyone dreams that their child will start smoking or use nicotine products.

Therefore, the Danish politicians should also get started and make a tightening like the French, she thinks.

- We've just caught up with the French politicians. I think that Danish politicians should think a little more.

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Unclear answer from the minister

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DR has tried to get an interview with Health Minister Sophie Løhde (V). It has not been possible.

She has instead sent a written response, which does not answer what she really thinks about introducing a similar ban in Denmark.

Instead, she tells that the government has already introduced a plan with 30 initiatives that aim to prevent children and young people's consumption of nicotine products, tobacco, and alcohol.

Health Minister Sophie Løhde and the government presented in 2023 a prevention plan aimed at children and young people together with SF, the Danish People's Party, the Conservatives, and Alternative. (Photo: © Ida Marie Odgaard, Ritzau Scanpix)

- I am completely in agreement that we have a special responsibility to protect children and young people from smoking. And it should be possible to watch a football match on the stadium or to go for a walk on the playground with one's children without being exposed to tobacco smoke, she writes.

She points out that municipalities now have the opportunity to ban smoking on playgrounds, and that there should be smoke-free zones on outdoor stadiums.

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