They beat us to it

Posted by: rupert bear on 08 October 2006

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6032125.stm
Posted on: 08 October 2006 by rupert bear
OOps wrong forum - somebody please transfer to the padded area.

Sorry....
Posted on: 08 October 2006 by sktn77a
Hmmmm....... and what does this have to do with the price of sliced bread???
Posted on: 09 October 2006 by rupert bear
Well, as much as anything else on this forum now it's been moved!

It's interesting that we in England have been mumbling on about banning smoking from bars and restaurants for some years now and nothing's happened; as soon as the French suddenly decide to do it, they just get on and do it. Good for them say I.
Posted on: 09 October 2006 by Bob McC
yeah but unlike here no bugger will take any notice if it.
Posted on: 09 October 2006 by rupert bear
At least no-one's used the phrase 'nanny state' yet.

It'll be interesting to see how the French react. Anyone in Scotland or Ireland know how it's going?
Posted on: 09 October 2006 by Ian G.
As a non-smoker in Scotland I think the ban here is fantastic. Mostly it has been adhered to in my experience. Pubs are suffering from a loss of business, some more than others depending on clientele. After the first 2 weeks it ceased to be an issue of the majority of folk. Some smokers are still sore about it others are using it as a prompt to give up.

They were smart with timing the introduction to conincide with the onset of warmer weather for folk to step outside - I think the real test will come on miserable January nights.

Ian
Posted on: 10 October 2006 by JohanR
We have it here in Sweden to. Lot's of talk about it before it happened, including ideas that the "natural" smells would come through when the smoke disapeared.

Not a single complain has been heard afterwards.

JohanR
Posted on: 10 October 2006 by Steve Toy
THe French banned smoking in all public places back in November 1992. Nobody took any notice apart from signs appearing bearing the words,

"Espace fumeur."

These signs soon disappeared and everything returned to normal. I guess the issue then was lack of enforcement. The French are a rebellious lot and even the authorities charged with powers of enforcement seemingly haven't the stomach for harassing otherwise decent law-abiding citizens.

I note that cafés etc have until January 2008 to comply. Our pubs must fall in line by July next year.