France to vote on total smoking ban
France is the latest country to move closer to a full smoking ban in public places.
The bill, which is supported by 60 National Assembly lawmakers, is intended to stub out smoking in the country's pubs, restaurants and bars. It will be voted on by France's parliament this autumn.
France would be the sixth country in Europe to bring in a blanket ban, after Italy, Ireland, Malta, Norway and Sweden. "We need to move forward in our fight against the public scourge of tobacco," said Yves Bur, deputy of the ruling Conservative UMP party.
But the law is expected to face stiff opposition in a country where half the population of 15- to 24-year-olds smoke and some operators see smoking as integral to the country's café culture.
"There will be opposition - maybe not from French smokers but from MPs and tobacco producers," said a spokeswoman for the French Committee against Tobacco. "But we hope [the law] will be implemented quickly."
The World Health Organisation estimates that 12% of all deaths in France are attributable to smoking.
What do the French think?
Raymond Blanc, chef-patron, Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, Oxfordshire "The French are very good at making rules but they're also good at breaking them. I don't think it will be followed and will be very difficult to enforce. In rural France it will be harder, because there's such an old tradition of having a fag in the local café."
Philipe Lhermitte, general manager, Mon Plaisir restaurant, Covent Garden, London
"The French like to complain and strike about things, but they'll have to accept it. Europe is going the way of America, where everyone is suing each other and businesses are afraid of the consequences."
Pierre Stock, restaurant manager, Racine, London SW3
"I can understand banning smoking in restaurants but I don't think it will be a good idea in bars. A huge amount of people smoke in France and it is part of the culture. It's routine for a certain section of French society, so I can't see [a ban] happening very soon."
Jean Chaib, head chef and proprietor, Morel restaurant, Clapham, London "They'll take it harder in France than they will here. The young people might respect it, but not the old. It will be particularly hard in the cafés but it will have to happen one day."
