The city of Bordeaux has just banned smoking around schools, within a radius of 50 meters. A “protective measure” that the ecological mayor Pierre Hurmic wishes to extend around nurseries, middle and high schools in a second step. “Passive smoking is a source of pollution, especially for children”, EELV Mayor Pierre Hurmic said Thursday, November 18 on franceinfo. He defends a measure “in harmony” with the will of the city “to protect children”.
franceinfo: What is the objective of this smoking ban in front of Bordeaux schools?
Pierre Hurmic: There are several goals. This action is part of the “tobacco-free month”, which aims to encourage people to stop smoking and, more generally, to denormalize tobacco use. We believe that if there is one place that is conducive to denormalizing tobacco use, it is near our kindergartens and elementary schools. This is the reason why we adopted a municipal by-law in this direction. It has been a long time since talks were initiated between the League against cancer and the municipality of Bordeaux. But the problem is that it remained at the state of intention. At some point, you have to make a decision and I made it. In addition, this is good because in Bordeaux, several weeks ago, we launched what we call the street for children, that is to say streets in which car traffic is not welcome, in which we also want to protect children from air pollution. I consider passive smoking to be a source of pollution as well, especially for children. I think this measure was very much in keeping with our desire to protect children.
What will the freelance smoker risk?
He risks a fine of 11 euros. But the finality is not so much a repressive finality, it is an educational purpose. We want children to tell their parents, smoking is forbidden in front of my school. We have 113 elementary nursery schools in Bordeaux which are concerned. This morning, I went to inaugurate this measure at a school in Bordeaux, the Saint-Bruno school. In front of this school, I found that the reception of parents and children was very favorable. I think children are prescribers. So we go through the children who are happy to see that we are protecting their school, that we are protecting their lungs so that they can pass the message on to their parents.
The League against cancer requested a perimeter of 500 meters around the establishments. You have chosen 50 meters. Why this choice ?
You have to start with a distance. We considered that 50 meters seemed quite reasonable. We are not forbidden to widen the perimeter in the months or in the years to come, nor to extend this measure to other establishments frequented by children, near crèches to protect the smallest children, but also in children’s play areas. We are rather considering an extension of this measure. And we know that many of our fellow citizens are quite favorable to it. I think there is a real awareness of the damage of tobacco. We know that it is 75,000 deaths per year. But above all, there is the damage caused by passive smoking. It is considered that there are a million people who are exposed to passive smoking. I think it is the role of politicians, national bodies, associations such as the League against cancer and local elected officials to fight effectively against smoking.
Bordeaux is not the first city in France to ban smoking in front of schools. Reims had done so in July. Do you call on your counterparts in other French cities to imitate you?
I don’t want to be the one to give advice to colleagues. Each takes the measures he deems useful on his municipal territory. But I am convinced that it is this type of measure will be called upon to multiply in a certain number of cities in France. I think we have to work in concert with the State, which wants an effective fight against smoking, and in concert with the establishments concerned. But I am convinced that this is totally in the direction of history and that more and more cities will adopt this type of measure.