| Without getting political, what do you think of | | | | over to the no-smoking zone. Cafes and clubs |
| when someone refers to France? Perhaps you | | | | remain the places where the law may be not so |
| would say the Eiffel Tower, the beret, outdoor | | | | strictly adhered to: mutual respect is ultimately |
| cafes and of course smoking. Every nation has it's | | | | the only rule. |
| own typecast and smoking has always been one | | | | Smoking is strictly prohibited by law in shops, |
| associated with the French but now it seems as if | | | | cinemas, theaters, hospitals and public services. |
| that may be changing. North America, as we all | | | | Smoking is against the law in schools, universities |
| know, has been implementing non-smoking laws | | | | and other educational establishments, including the |
| for years and now it is happening globally. | | | | open spaces (playgrounds, stadiums...). |
| Perhaps you would like to know how exactly | | | | French law prohibits smoking in public transport, |
| France is changing? Smoking is generally well | | | | throughout the Paris and Ile-de-France network: |
| tolerated, but is now restricted to specific areas. | | | | metro, bus, RER, suburban trains and trams. |
| Cigarettes are barred from a good number of | | | | Railway and metro stations are also entirely |
| places, in particular enclosed public buildings and | | | | non-smoking, although you may come across |
| public transport. | | | | certain recalcitrant individuals, despite the |
| If you are staying at a hotel you can smoke in | | | | no-smoking signs and anti-smoking campaigns. |
| your hotel room unless there is a specific sign | | | | Taxis are usually non-smoking. |
| forbidding it, but the hotel must conform to | | | | Finally, at the office, some companies provide a |
| required ventilation standards. The public areas, like | | | | special smoking area for their employees, but |
| the breakfast room, reception and the corridors | | | | more and more office buildings have totally |
| are generally no-smoking areas. All youth hostels | | | | excluded any smoking at all. For example in the |
| are as a general rule entirely non-smoking. | | | | business district of La Defense, some high-rise |
| When visiting restaurants they are obliged to | | | | blocks are completely cigarette-free. |
| provide designated smoking and non-smoking | | | | I'm not sure that we will ever see the day when |
| zones. As you go in you will be asked in which | | | | the entire world has become smoke-free but the |
| section you prefer to be seated. However, | | | | fact that France is now becoming more strict |
| depending on the layout of some places, tobacco | | | | should send all the smokers a strong message. |
| odors cannot always be prevented from drifting | | | | The time to quit is now. |