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France's Smoking Ban Snubbed
Posted: Friday, April 28, 2006
By Michael Moretti
France nearly passed a smoking ban in April, but in the wake of protests over the controversial youth labor laws, Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin asked the government to put the legislation on hold.
The proposed measure would have put an end to the traditional smoky French cafés, as well as outlawing lovers of the leaf from lighting up in restaurants and most indoor public places.
Following the government's decision to delay the ban, officials called for months of consultation on the issue.
France is not the first European country to consider prohibiting indoor smoking. Ireland, Italy and Spain have already passed smoking bans.
Smoking in France, as in many other places, has been in the crosshairs of the government. In 1991, bars and restaurants in the country had established defined nonsmoking areas. In 2003, the price of cigarettes was raised by 20 percent.
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