The only places in French bars, restaurants, hotels and nightclubs where smokers may still indulge on their habit are designated outdoor seating areas. Bar owners and staff are up in arms against the smoking ban expansion, but the move has the support of 66 percent of French nationals.
Olivier Colombe, owner of Paris cafes Le Panier and Le Faitout, told the International Herald Tribune, "All my customers smoke, all my employees smoke. What are we going to do?"
Smokers light up while waiting for their food and drinks. French cafes are characterized by diners lingering for hours over cigarette, coffee or liquor. "Long dinners with several bottles of wine and lots of discussions are going to be difficult," Colombe said. "The ambiance will be totally different."
France is the fifth European country to ban smoking in public. Ireland was the first on 2004, followed by Sweden, Italy and Malta. The European Union has no anti-smoking policy for its 27-member bloc, but EU executives in Brussels are reportedly in favor of a regional ban.
The penalty for violators is $98 (68 euro) for individuals and $195 (135 euro) for companies.
