French catch up to other European states with smoking ban plan
PARIS - France’s move to ban smoking in public places follows the lead of several other European countries, which have already made the transition — largely winning public favour.
Ireland was the first to prohibit smoking in all enclosed spaces, including bars, restaurants and offices, in March 2004. It was followed two months later by Norway (not an EU member), then Malta and the following year Italy and Sweden.
Spain this year banned smoking in workplaces, bars and restaurants.
Britain is to follow suit with its own no-smoking edict next year (Scotland has already imposed one since March this year). So, too, will Lithuana.
Although national media often played up vocal resistance by some smokers and cigarette-sellers in the lead-up to the bans, the prohibitions have been generally well-received afterwards by the public both smokers and non-smokers.
In Ireland, for instance, a survey found 93 percent of those asked (and 89 percent of smokers) thought the ban a good idea. Publicans have set up heated outdoor areas for smokers to puff away together in peace.
Even in Italy, where minor laws are sometimes considered optional, observance of the ban has been surprisingly good — a reflection perhaps of the hefty fines risked by violators. Frequent good weather also means smokers prefer to light up outside in cafe terrasses.
Spain, though, has so far shown a mixed record. The “no smoking” signs in bars and restaurants are often ignored, although workspaces tend to be clear of the carcinogenic fumes.
Spanish authorities have been relatively tolerant of the breaches up to now, worried about the economic effects on some establishments if draconian enforcement is introduced.
It doesn’t help that cigarette prices in Spain are also very low compared to other parts of Europe, although that gap looks set to narrow in the near future with a planned government price rise.
In the rest of the 25-nation European Union, there are few barriers to smoking, much to the discomfort of non-smokers who make the majority of the national populations.
Austria — which has one of the highest proportion of smokers, estimated at 37 percent — has no laws in place barring the haze of nicotine, carbon monoxide, cyanide, and hydrocarbons cigarettes produce.
Germany continues to leave any non-smoking decisions up to the owners of bars and restaurants, after several bills calling for a ban have been blocked in parliament.
Luxembourg has taken a sort of middle road with a partial ban that started in September. Nightclubs are exempted and restaurants have the option of setting aside a separate smoking area.
Similarly, when Belgium introduces its new law in January, restaurants and cafes will be allowed to keep smoking rooms, although no food or drink will be served in them.
In Finland special rooms hermetically sealed from the non-smoking outside world are also being planned for after a tough new law is introduced in June 2007.
Elsewhere smoking bans are simply ignored, including Greece, which heads the league table of tobacco smokers (40 percent) and Hungary, where parliamentary deputies still make decisions in smoke-filled rooms.
Currently there is no overriding European legislation to clear the air, just rules covering maximum nicotine, tar levels and the size of health warnings on cigarette packets.
But Brussels doesn’t rule out further legislation.
“There is a debate underway on how to tackle passive smoking and the noxious effects of smoking in public places,” according to EU health spokesman Philip Tod.
