French mobilise smoking legion to enforce ban

The French – those notorious puffers of Gauloises and Gitanes cigarettes – have mobilised a legion of 175,000 "cigarette police" to enforce a tough new law prohibiting smoking in public spaces.

The brigade will patrol schools, factories and offices in an attempt to enforce the new regulations, although restaurants and bars, where smoking has theoretically been banned since 1991, will have a further 11 months grace before they have to comply.

From Thursday 1 February, offenders who smoke in enclosed spaces face a fine of €68 (£48).

Xavier Simon, the French health minister said: "No one should have to put up with smoke puffed out by others. This is the end of the enforced co-habitation between smokers and non-smokers."

One in three French people over 12 smoke regularly. Regulations banning smoking in public areas have already been imposed in Ireland, Spain, Scotland and Sweden and will come into force in England in July.

By Emily Manson

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