France

Since 29 June 2025 smoking is banned on every public beach, in parks and public gardens, at bus shelters and other passenger waiting areas, and around schools, libraries, sports grounds and swimming pools during opening hours. It is a fourth-class contravention: €135 on the spot, up to €750 before a court. Café and restaurant terraces are not covered by this decree.

The rule follows the ground, not the town. Step off the sand, out of the park and away from the shelter — and assume anywhere children gather is covered.

Holding counterfeit goods without legitimate reason is a criminal offence in France, carrying up to three years and €300,000 under art. L716-10 of the intellectual property code. In practice customs seizes the item and settles for a fine of one to two times its value — so the cost scales with what you bought, and there is no fixed figure to quote. The buyer is liable, not only the seller.

If the price makes no sense for the brand, it is counterfeit and it is your problem at the border, not the vendor's. Walk away.

Flying a drone over a restricted zone is a criminal offence, not a ticket. Art. L6232-4 of the Code des transports carries up to a year in prison and €75,000, and the statutory range for breaching flight prohibitions runs from €15,000. In practice the drone is confiscated. City centres, coastlines near airports and anywhere around military or sensitive sites are restricted by default — the amount is not a fixed figure, so none is stated.

Check the official restriction map before you pack the drone, not after you arrive. Most of the Riviera coast and every city centre is off limits without authorisation.