No Smoking in Restos in France including Paris

[Carlsbad]

The Hemingway Bar is extremely smoky on the nights they promote cigar smoking, which I avoid. Otherwise, I haven't noticed it being particularly smoky.

It wasn't that long ago that it seemed impossible that a ban on smoking in public places would work in California, but it has.

[Ptipois]

The primary reason that many restaurants offer non-smoking sections is due to the american demand, which is understandable due to the fact that the americans leave a lot of money here.

←

I thought it was because of "la Loi Evain", non?

←

It is, indeed, because of the loi Évin.

[John Talbott]

The primary reason that many restaurants offer non-smoking sections is due to the american demand, which is understandable due to the fact that the americans leave a lot of money here.

←

I thought it was because of "la Loi Evain", non?

←

It is, indeed, because of the loi Évin.

←

FYI - Last night on the 8 PM Fr2 news, I fleetingly saw a banner about a new law (I believe it was #2988 by M. Courtial) that had its (not sure which number) reading in the AN that expands and is more specific than the Evin law, is justified as a public health/anti-secondhand smoke measure and targets places like schools but also mentions restaurants and cafes.

[Ptipois]

FYI - Last night on the 8 PM Fr2 news, I fleetingly saw a banner about a new law (I believe it was #2988 by M. Courtial) that had its (not sure which number) reading in the AN that expands and is more specific than the Evin law, is justified as a public health/anti-secondhand smoke measure and targets places like schools but also mentions restaurants and cafes.

←

Quite true, John. It is a new law that extends the Loi Évin, which already aims at banning smoking from public places - including cafés and restaurants -, a measure that certainly has nothing to do with American tourism or economic power (there are, of course, many people affected by cigarette smoke in France, and the French are perfectly able to make laws to answer their own needs).

This new law is more focused on "tabagisme passif", secondhand smoke, a vivid health issue in France these days.

Watching La Chaîne Parlementaire last night on cable was very instructive since much of the program was dedicated to a documentary on secondhand smoke, as if by chance. It also showed how tobacco companies, now that their advertising powers are so limited in developed countries, are taking poor African countries like Niger as targets, and how associations in those countries were rising to "educate" the citizens, especially the young ones, about the dangers of smoking. (One man, quote: "We already have aids, malaria, and chronical hunger, do you think we need something more?").

When the LCP channel broadcasts that kind of program, you know that something is in the air (or rather that something is about to no longer be in the air )

[Margaret Pilgrim]

I have found myself in many smoky venues. Most of the time we have been able to adjust our seating to avoid the smokey draft. We have never asked someone not to smoke. However, we have not infrequently had French people complain about smoke and in no uncertain terms tell the offender to cease or move.

[Felice]

Today’s Figaro announced that the Government will announce a ban on smoking in all public places except bar-tabacs (which is where cigarettes are sold) and nightclubs. The ban is said to take effect in January 2007. So, smoky restaurants and cafés might soon be a part of French history.

Here's the article

[John Talbott]

So, smoky restaurants and cafés might soon be a part of French history.

←

Expatica has an AFP-sourced article in English saying much the same as Le Figaro but with a headline indicating it's not over til it's over; quoting the head "of France's tobacco producers' federation René le Pape" suggesting places install air-purifiers, Andre Daguin, ex-Hotel de France in Auch, now head of the Union des Metiers et des Industries de l'Hotelliere hospitality association suggesting that "bars could install smoking rooms in which staff were not required to serve" and re-quoting PM Villepin's statrement to Le Figaro that "nothing is yet definitively decided."

[Carlsbad]

It's deja vu all over again. Exactly what we heard in California. The next thing will be that the bars can't survive. Or the restaurants.

Edited August 26, 2006 by Carlsbad (log)

[Ptipois]

Things are going fast.

A few days ago, I was having moules-frites at a small seaside bistrot in Brittany. My friend, who smokes the foulest-smelling tobacco hoping that it will help her quit , started rolling one, and the waiter kindly but firmly told her to go outside.

No American tourists miles around, we were the only ones dining in that hall, there was nothing fancy about the place — oh, and yes: the front part of the bistrot was dedicated to the usual beer gulping, pool and pinball playing, gauloise smoking and warm barroom chatting that is so typical of Breton bistrots. It was just: no smoking in the no-smoking area, period.

She begged and pleaded but to no avail. Since she couldn't stop trying to coax the waiter into making an exception, I told her that her tobacco stank like no other and that it was two against one, really. So she went out. There will always be café and restaurant owners reluctant to apply the law, but I'm pretty sure they won't be the majority in the long run.

[Busboy]

We just got back from three weeks in the south and, except for breakfasts at the bar-tabac, were surprised how few Frenchmen we saw lighting up. I'd almost expect cigarettes to be more of a problem (if you consider them a problem) here in Washington, D.C. than in France.

[markk]

As recently as two or three years ago (haven't been back since, sadly), in Alsace (but mostly in the southern end) there were a lot of restaurants (where almost no American tourists go) that had gone either entirely non-smoking, or which had large and strictly "non-smoking" separate dining rooms. I was chatting with the owner of one of them when a French couple arrived for dinner. The host looked down at her seating chart and said to the woman "I have a table for you in the non-smoking room", and the diner replied "Perfect!" I think that a lot of French people are non-, or anti-smoke, as well.

[John Talbott]

There was a cute letter to the editor in today's Figaro that said that Fernand Point, famed chef at Pyramide, during the '50's when he was "best worker in France," (I know it doesn't translate well) when seeing a customer light up between the pear and cheese would rush over with the check. Today, the author Yves Beaulieu says, it's the government who will rush over with the check to the restaurateur who lets a client smoke. Times change, he concludes.

[John Talbott]

There is another thread recently started by raisab on total abolition of smoking that I think is sufficiently different from where to find no smoking places in the immediate future that I didn't merge them.

For instance, the relatively recent New York Times article gave another website for a list by arrondissement (and other regions as well) that are currrently no smoking.

[weinoo]

A friend and his wife are off to Paris for a week right after the New Year. I was wondering what the best of the non-smoking establishments are these days (I have La Cerisae on my list), both in the bistro/brasserie category as well as the higher-end places.

[John Talbott]

A friend and his wife are off to Paris for a week right after the New Year.  I was wondering what the best of the non-smoking establishments are these days (I have La Cerisae on my list), both in the bistro/brasserie category as well as the higher-end places.

←

If you go upthread to May 4th there's a terrific list from Le Figaro. On it, I'd recommend: Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Table du Lancaster, La Cerisaie, Mon Vieil Ami + Le Temps au temps.

Edited by John Talbott to add some meat.

Edited December 19, 2006 by John Talbott (log)

[John Talbott]

Yesterday, Radio France's "Web Radio du Goût" had a piece on the fact that 78 % of restaurants surveyed by "Les Droits des non-fumeurs (DNF)" are anticipating the no-smoking law's implementation in bars, cafés, restaurants, discothèques and casinos, Jan 1, 2008, and intervening with people who are smoking in non-designated places.

[hughw]

When we were in Paris in February, we ate at several non-smoking places. What suprised me was that even in the Smoking restos, the number of smokers and the amount of smoke seemed significantly less (and in some case close to non-existent) compared with a year or two ago, Could the French be cutting back on their smoking too?

[John Whiting]

This was exactly our experience in May. And a great relief it was.

[John Talbott]

While we are still in the midst of a trip in Italy, I must note that the Italians have taken the No Smoking anywhere ban quite in stride. New York and French smokers put up the argument that no one will go there anymore, but as Yogi should have said "That is because they are so popular."

[John Talbott]

Report from the Front:

It's working, 100% of patrons in restaurants obey the no smoking regulation/law, altho elsewhere, some shop-women stand in the doorway puffing away.

[John Talbott]

I've got an observation and question.

As I said above, 100% of places are no smoking including tobacco shops (excepting bums/clochards and angry ados in the Metro).

But I've noticed that the law or interpretation of the law, however, regarding terrace/terasse space is in flux.

1. My bar/cafe downstairs has tables and chairs totally on the sidewalk with heaters but no cover.

2. But 100 meters away, a brasserie has an entirely enclosed outside terrace/terasse where smoking is permitted.

3. However, a place I ate at today seemed more loyal to both the intent and implementation of the law with an open front but heaters inside.

I don't want to get into pilpul here but I think System "D" may be alive and well.

[Dave Hatfield]

I must say that I'm quite surprised at the apparent docility about the new law. I haven't seen a single infraction and, in my presence at least, none of our smoking French friends have complained.

I had expected that at least some of our local and pretty remote cafes/ bars would turn a blind eye to local smokers, but not so so far.

Where is that spirit of individuality & independence that we expect and love in the French?

A nation of law abider's! Brussels has a lot to answer for I think.

[John Talbott]

I must say that I'm quite surprised at the apparent docility about the new law. I haven't seen a single infraction and, in my presence at least, none of our smoking French friends have complained.

←

I agree, it's quite amazing. The association of owners, however, has reported a 5% fall off in business and the number of butts outside restaurants and cafes has increased accordingly but it's quite nice not to have to worry about it any more.

[Ptipois]

Where is that spirit of individuality & independence that we expect and love in the French?

←

Asleep in the very same limbo where all the other myths dwell.

[Dave Hatfield]

Where is that spirit of individuality & independence that we expect and love in the French?

←

Asleep in the very same limbo where all the other myths dwell.

←

Touche!