"We’re not allowed to smoke in parks, on beaches, and all that — I think it’s ridiculous," says Damien Dupois, as he puffs on a cigarette before stepping onto the beach at Le Porge in Gironde. Smoking is now officially banned on beaches, in parks, under bus shelters, and near schools across France, following the publication of a new government decree — a move that’s sparking mixed reactions along the coast. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES