Non-Smoking Paris?

Without getting political, what do you think of when someone refers to France? Perhaps you would say the Eiffel Tower, the beret, outdoor cafes and of course smoking. Every nation has it's own typecast and smoking has always been one associated with the French but now it seems as if that may be changing. North America, as we all know, has been implementing non-smoking laws for years and now it is happening globally.

Perhaps you would like to know how exactly France is changing? Smoking is generally well tolerated, but is now restricted to specific areas. Cigarettes are barred from a good number of places, in particular enclosed public buildings and public transport.

If you are staying at a hotel you can smoke in your hotel room unless there is a specific sign forbidding it, but the hotel must conform to required ventilation standards. The public areas, like the breakfast room, reception and the corridors are generally no-smoking areas. All youth hostels are as a general rule entirely non-smoking.

When visiting restaurants they are obliged to provide designated smoking and non-smoking zones. As you go in you will be asked in which section you prefer to be seated. However, depending on the layout of some places, tobacco odors cannot always be prevented from drifting over to the no-smoking zone. Cafes and clubs remain the places where the law may be not so strictly adhered to: mutual respect is ultimately the only rule.

Smoking is strictly prohibited by law in shops, cinemas, theaters, hospitals and public services.

Smoking is against the law in schools, universities and other educational establishments, including the open spaces (playgrounds, stadiums...).

French law prohibits smoking in public transport, throughout the Paris and Ile-de-France network: metro, bus, RER, suburban trains and trams. Railway and metro stations are also entirely non-smoking, although you may come across certain recalcitrant individuals, despite the no-smoking signs and anti-smoking campaigns. Taxis are usually non-smoking.

Finally, at the office, some companies provide a special smoking area for their employees, but more and more office buildings have totally excluded any smoking at all. For example in the business district of La Defense, some high-rise blocks are completely cigarette-free.

I'm not sure that we will ever see the day when the entire world has become smoke-free but the fact that France is now becoming more strict should send all the smokers a strong message. The time to quit is now.