France to widen smoking ban to beaches, parks and forests

France will ban smoking in many public places (Jacques Brinon/AP)

France is to ban smoking on beaches, in public parks, forests and some other public areas as part of a national anti-tobacco plan unveiled by the health minister.

Tobacco products cause 75,000 avoidable deaths a year in France, minister of health and prevention Aurelien Rousseau said on BFM television.