2008 and France is finally 100% smoke-free!

This was all the buzz while I was spending the christmas holidays in France. What a good news! Smoking had already been banned in public places since february 2007, but only in the hospitals, train stations, schools, offices. Smoking was still allowed in cafés and restaurants. The 1st of January heralded the beginning of the full ban to take place in these remaining public places. France has finally joined in long after several European countries such as Italy, Sweden, Malta and Ireland. Ireland was the first country to introduce the complete ban in 2004.

While many french restaurants and cafés had a so called 'non smoking area', there were often no actual separation between the 2 areas: a joke for the non smokers. I am glad to free of the smoke and cigarette smell whenever I am in a café in France! Although many smokers have complained about it, I'm sure it'll be good for the majority. It works quite well in Ireland, why wouldn't it in France?