Ban on smoking in publice areas takes effect in France

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Source: CCTV.com | 02-02-2007 09:37

In France a ban on smoking in public areas has come into effect. The change may alter the image of a country defined, in part, by its smoky cafes.

France's 15 million smokers are now totally banned from lighting up in workplaces, schools, airports, hospitals and other "closed and covered" public places.

As many offices and public buildings already ban smoking indoors, Thursday's move is not a revolution. But the government hopes it will help cut down on the number of smoking-related deaths. Currently, 5,000 people die from second-hand smoke, and 60,000 die from smoking each year.

Though it makes their lives harder, even some smokers in Paris seem to welcome the law.

Vincent Dosieres, smoker, said, "It is a very good law. Personally, I'm a smoker. It's good for me, because I won't have the smell of cigarettes in the office."