|
France bans smoking in many public places |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Written by From asap
|
|
Monday, 09 October 2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
What would a massive strike of cigarette smokers look like?
We may get the chance to find out, with French prime minister announcing Sunday that the country would in February start a ban on smoking in schools, offices and other public buildings. Restaurants, dance clubs and some bars would have until 2008 to comply.
Dominique de Villepin told LCI television the ban will be ordered "by decree" in the next few days -- a step that allows the government to avert a parliamentary debate.
"I am convinced the French people are now ready," he said, joining Ireland, Spain, Britain and Italy which have adopted similar measures.
___
THE REACTION: MAIS NON!
The French treasure their right to light up in cafes, bars or restaurants, and have sought to cast the debate as one of freedoms being infringed. Even the French presidency's Web site shows a photo of a young President Jacques Chirac with a cigarette in his mouth.
___
'THE SKAPEGOAT'
A top French association of the hospitality industry business, UMIH, said in a statement Sunday the ban would be ineffective. "Once again, it is the cafe, restaurant and discotheque sector that is the scapegoat of all society's ills," the group said.
___
FINES
Smokers who violate the ban will face fines of 75 euros ($95 at current exchange rates) while proprietors of buildings where the violations take place will be subject to twice that, Villepin said. "And we will mobilize a sizable inspection team" to ensure that the law is respected, he added. | Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register. |
|
|  | "Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only truth." | |
|  | We're not that bright, even though in our own little world, we're geniuses. We like 80s hair bands and one-hit wonders, but among us we have respectable tastes, too. Metallica, Iron Maiden, U2. Pursuit of all things trivial is a lifestyle, not just a game. We like some sports, love other sports, and can find something to say about anything. We watch TV and movies and we've read a book or two, even a few classics (Yes, Classic Comics count!)
We call it insight, you call it what you will. | |
|  | Felix Wong is an outdoor enthusiast living in Fort Collins. A mechanical engineer by day, he is especially passionate about bicycling, running, and backpacking. | |
|  | Hola Amigos! I'm Sandra. I like to believe that people are 70 percent good and 30 percent dumb. I'm stickin to that story. Reading this blog might make you want to be good, but probably just dumb. | |
|  | Donovan Henderson is editor of NEXTnc. | |
|  | Here at Nextnc we have some characters. Get a sneak peak behind the curtain and find out what amusing antics our staffers get themselves into on a weekly basis. | |
|  | What is up FoCo?
I am a recent college graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead. After recieving my B.A. in English and Mass Communications this past August I moved down to Colorado.
I enjoy long walks on the beach, candlelight dinners, and heavy metal. My hobbies include reading and writing, music, movies, and getting drunk. Some of my favorite contemporary authors include Bret Easton Ellis, Chuck Palahniuk, and Kurt Vonnegut. My top movies are anything directed by Kubrick. I enjoy listening to anything that rocks.
Right now I am just trying to get to know Colorado and FoCo better. Mostly in order to find the best drink specials on each day that ends in Y. So if you know where I can get a cheap drunk on, let me know!
--Drew | |
|  | Life's little morsels of inspiration, observation and encouragement seen through the eyes of the Nextnc reporter.
| |
|  | Ms. Giles currently lives in Colorado where she stars in her own private reality show. She writes aphoristic accounts of her life, taken completely out of context, and embellished with characters and situations disguised to resemble something close to interesting. | |
|  | over and out | |
| | My name is Michelle Turley and I'm 28 years old. I live in Severance with my hubbie, Brandon. We have 2 dogs and a cat. We enjoy camping, four-wheeling, and just being in the mountains. I like to cook, clean (go figure), flea market, and play poker. I have so much to say about poker... | |
|
|
