"It's going to be very restrictive": In Toulon, smokers' opinions are divided on the ban on smoking on the beach

Sefana, who came from Lyon to relax in Toulon, is enjoying this beautiful sunny day on Mourillon beach with her son. With a pack of Marlboros on her towel and a beach ashtray nearby, she admits to being "bothered" by the upcoming reform.

"It's going to be very restrictive. If I have to leave the beach every time I want to smoke a cigarette, who's going to watch my child and my belongings during that time?"

A constraint to which is added a feeling of injustice: "I am the first to fight against cigarette butts being thrown, pollution... I never smoke in front of my son or near other children. But here, we are being forced to go out to smoke on a terrace just to be able to smoke in peace!"

So, what will I do in a month? "I'll find a way to smoke in secret!" she says.

Others are still unaware of the imminent ban. "Really? I'm not aware of it," Mehdi says. Cigarette in hand, he nevertheless assures us that it doesn't really bother him.

"It's a family beach, there are a lot of children, that's understandable. Especially since people don't pay attention to their cigarette butts," says the Marseille native who likes to come and enjoy the beaches of Toulon.

"If it's really forbidden, I'll go further to smoke. I'm already careful not to smoke around children," promises Mehdi, from whom too much can't be asked: "What's certain is that this isn't going to make me reduce my consumption!"

"If I get caught, I'll pay the fine."

And then there are those who insist it won't change their habits. Chloé, a young mother from Toulon, watches her son playing in Mourillon Park. Smoking will also soon be banned there.

"We're outdoors, away from the children, we're not poisoning anyone," she fumes. "I'll still smoke, despite the ban. I'm not going to leave my son alone for a cigarette!"

As for the consequences, she says she's ready to face them: "If I get caught, I'll pay the fine." (Failure to comply with the ban could result in a class 4 fine, or 135 euros, Editor's note).

"It's getting worse and worse. Soon we'll have to pay for the oxygen we breathe," adds Chloe's mother, who can already imagine what's next: "No one will respect this measure, people will hide their cigarettes when they see the police arrive."