I have heard that the French government has banned smoking at the cafes and restaurants in Paris. Is this true? My reason is that my wife is six weeks pregnant and we are going to Paris in less than three weeks. Thanks in advance.
Posted by
Edmonton, Canada
51 posts
You heard right! I believe it came into effect in January. However, I am quite sure that people still may smoke at outside seating areas. Still it should make a huge difference in restaurants and depending on the weather, you may not be eating on patios anyway.
Have a great trip!
Posted by
SF Bay Area, CA
2030 posts
Yes! and it's great.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Over Christmas, I didn't even notice any smoke in outdoor seating areas (and I am very sensitive to cigarette smoke). Enjoy the clean air!
Posted by
OP
Sugarloaf, CA, USA
29 posts
Thanks, guys, for the replies!! This will make both of us rest a bit easier.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
251 posts
Oh my goodness oh my goodness, oh my goodness After years of travelling, living, and working in France this last trip was the first time ever I could relax in a cafe or restaurant. I was almost giddy at the experience. My friends here are tired of hearing me talk about it.
Some things thought. It will be mid-spring when you go, everyone will want to sit outside in the beautiful Parisian air, well that is where all the smokers are. There was never a time when we sat outside when someone didn't light up. Grumble. (We expect mid-summer will be great though as all smokers sit in the heat and non smokers sit in the ac) ah well. My husband (French) and his family all predict this will change soon. Here in WA we have a 35ft rule.
I too was pregnant in Paris ugh. Anyone who things France's smoking habits are "romantic" has never spent a day in pre-natal and pediatric clinics looking at all the posters on the wall.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
troto,, you were lucky to find an airconditioned cafe.
Posted by
Paris, France
506 posts
Smoking on the terrace is still permitted. I do recommend you sit away from the door entrance if possible - because they tend to congregate at times of rain etc near the door.
Posted by
Ridgefield, WA, USA
160 posts
One of the nicer pleasures I had in Paris was enjoying a fine post-meal stogie at a Rue Cler cafe over wine and coffee - in a designated smoking area. One day, a young American couple came in with two young kids and sat all the way back in the non-smoking area. Of course, they started whining when they saw me with my stogie, even though they were five tables away. Eventually, they stormed out, with a snotty comment from one of the kids: "We're not eating here."
It's funny that Rick trumpets the greatness of Europe and recommends that we be good ambassadors while respecting the culture. However, that doesn't seem to apply when our delicate American sensibilities are offended. It's their culture - trying to stamp our ways on them is as bad as the pasty tourist who loudly asks a French clerk, "YA'LL TAKE DOLLARS HEAH?" Tragic.
Having smoking/non-smoking areas should be adequate to protect anti-smokers, vs. banning the whole deal.