France bans smoking in cafes

[Sentinel of Northern Star]

France faces end of coffee and cigarettes

• Story Highlights
• Smoking ban in France extended to bars, clubs, restaurants, cafes from Jan 1
• Smoking ban first introduced in February 2007 for public buildings, workplaces
• About 13.5 million people in France smoke out of a population of 60 million
• Similar bans now exist in Ireland, Italy, Spain, Belgium and Britain

PARIS, France (CNN) -- As a look, it is about as quintessentially French as it gets. All the same, from the New Year enjoying a cigarette while you sip on your cafe au lait will become a thing of the past.
France is extending its ban on smoking to include bars, discotheques, restaurants, hotels, casinos, as well as its fabled cafes.
In a country renowned for its fondness for romance, smoking has never quite shaken off its romantic associations with smoky Left Bank cafes and waifish Parisienne beauties clutching on a Gauloises.
In spite of the health dangers, about 13.5 million people smoke out of a population of 60 million with around 26 percent of 15 year olds estimated to smoke, according to 2002 figures from the World Health Organization.
A smoking ban was first introduced in France in February this year to cover workplaces, schools, airports and hospitals.
The new restrictions will only apply to the inside of premises, meaning smokers are still free to light up on the terraces.
Even so, enforcing the ban may prove tricky in a country well known for its cafe culture.
To soften the blow, the authorities have agreed to an amnesty over the New Year holiday and will not fully enforce the new arrangements until Wednesday.
After that time, any smoker caught will face a fine of &euro450 ($662), while hotel and bar owners who fail to prevent smokers from lighting up on their premises will be fined &euro750 ($1,100).
France has lagged behind many of its European neighbors in bringing in legislation to curb smoking in public places.
Ireland became the first European country to introduce a comprehensive smoking ban in 2004. Since then Italy, Spain, Belgium and Britain have followed suit with similar bans.

[Sentinel of Northern Star]

in 20 years time, tobacco will prob be classified as a restricted drug like heroin

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by Sentinel of Northern Star

in 20 years time, tobacco will prob be classified as a restricted drug like heroin

Agreed, but perhaps sooner. It will be internationally banned to smoke in public within 10 years.

[althekillr]

wonder how much this is hurting the world cigar industry. Not only locations being restricted, but the negative stigma they are trying to attach to all smokers.

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by althekillr

wonder how much this is hurting the world cigar industry.

The tobacco industry in general will further market and develop "tobacco friendly" countries and regions as they have been doing. This is especially appearent in countries where tobacco advertising is still legal. Middle East, SE Asia, Africa... all still pretty lax tobacco laws.

[zmancbr]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Agreed, but perhaps sooner. It will be internationally banned to smoke in public within 10 years.

Perhaps, which is why I am trying to build up a fine collection now. Plus the taxes have nowhere to go but up. So by buying now, I'm saving money...at least that's what I tell myself everytime I check out CBID...

[smokinpoke]

We are all screwed now that the Europeans have stopped smoking.

All right kids we're packing up the van and moving to a third world country that allows tobacco and hooka pipes.

[tchariya]

uh oh shaggy....how are we going to survive the BO smell that the tobacco smoke was covering!!!

[RJT]

Originally Posted by tchariya

uh oh shaggy....how are we going to survive the BO smell that the tobacco smoke was covering!!!

[kjjm4]

Originally Posted by Sentinel of Northern Star

in 20 years time, tobacco will prob be classified as a restricted drug like heroin

Maybe I'm wrong, but I kind of doubt it will go that far, because there's a lot of jobs/money at stake. A total ban on smoking in public is possible, but I doubt tobacco will be made totally illegal.

[Bones]

Originally Posted by Sentinel of Northern Star

• Similar bans now exist in Ireland

[SIZE=2]

Originally Posted by BBC

which has the effect of banning smoking in pubs and restaurants.

NOOOOOOOOOOOO
You have to be kidding me, I am planning on attending university in Ireland, and they ban smoking in pubs?
[/SIZE]

[hova45]

This is BS all the freaking way I am sick of the freaking government telling us what we cant and can do.

[Budprince]

Originally Posted by hova45

This is BS all the freaking way I am sick of the freaking government telling us what we cant and can do.

[Bax]

Originally Posted by zmancbr

Perhaps, which is why I am trying to build up a fine collection now. Plus the taxes have nowhere to go but up. So by buying now, I'm saving money...at least that's what I tell myself everytime I check out CBID...

That's heads up thinking. It may seem like alot now, but how much will that little cooler be worth in 10 years?

When the world wide smoking ban kicks in we need to have cool underground smoking clubs set up. That sounds like a contest, name the smoking Speakeasy.

[daniel2001]

Originally Posted by althekillr

wonder how much this is hurting the world cigar industry. Not only locations being restricted, but the negative stigma they are trying to attach to all smokers.

I read somewhere that cigar sales in Ireland went up after the ban..............................................