On the grounds that I have France on my mind and given that I'm currently working on my French novel, this is not so much a post but more an excuse to use some photos.
So to the issue itself yesterday:
So to the issue itself yesterday:
Les fumeurs plutôt disciplinés dès hier - c'est aujourd'hui que commencent les contrôles mais, dès hier, de nombreux cafés et restaurants respectaient l'interdiction.That clear? Well let me put it slightly differently:
The extension of France's smoking ban to bars, discotheques, restaurants, hotels, casinos and cafes on January 1 marks a momentous cultural shift in a country where thinkers like Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir once held court while clutching cigarettes in Left Bank cafes.
For smokers, this is the most distressing part of a phased smoking ban that began last February in workplaces, schools, airports, hospitals and other "closed and covered" public places like train stations.
But many bartenders and restaurant staffers are looking forward to breathing easier and to clothes that don't stink of seeped-in odours from the clouds of smoke where they work.
Just about anywhere indoors will be off-limits for smoking, except homes, hotel rooms, and sealed smoking chambers at establishments that decide to provide them.
We're getting into a very grey area here. In the light of the Devil's Kitchen piece on pornography below, there are issues here of freedom v respect for others - the classic liberal dilemma.
Upfront, I'm no fan of smoking. Not only did my father die from it but he gave respiratory problems to both my mother and myself and if there's too much smoke, I'm out of there. It's not a moral question at all - I'd love to be sitting in there with DK and lots of other bloggers having a drink and a chatter and yes - maybe even the occasional fag.
Upfront, I'm no fan of smoking. Not only did my father die from it but he gave respiratory problems to both my mother and myself and if there's too much smoke, I'm out of there. It's not a moral question at all - I'd love to be sitting in there with DK and lots of other bloggers having a drink and a chatter and yes - maybe even the occasional fag.
It's just that the health won't allow too much of it. Plus one more thing - this craze for over-regulating every last aspect of human behaviour is pure 1984, pure PC and it opens the floodgates to massive state oppression, which is basically what all libertarians and other right thinking people are trying to oppose.
In the end, surely there is a difference between pornography, which most certainly has a slow seeping impact on attitudes to women, especially if the material has been freely available to children from an early age, along with the vicious dice and slice mumbo jumbo games on the one hand - and having a ciggy with a beer at a pub?
As for Paris itself - I think it would be a tragic loss to regulate people out of this form of relaxation, especially when dining al fresco.
In the end, surely there is a difference between pornography, which most certainly has a slow seeping impact on attitudes to women, especially if the material has been freely available to children from an early age, along with the vicious dice and slice mumbo jumbo games on the one hand - and having a ciggy with a beer at a pub?
As for Paris itself - I think it would be a tragic loss to regulate people out of this form of relaxation, especially when dining al fresco.
If you are not happy with the decisions your elected representatives have made on your behalf, then you have to decide whether you voted/elected the right person and vote accordingly next time!
ReplyDeleteIf you make it to Paris, we are only a short hop away in the UK, so you must call here too.
ReplyDeleteI would love to visit Paris on the new Eurostar line, it sounds fab.
Sorry, no agreement with your point of view here. The non-smoking ban has worked brilliantly here. You can't smoke anywhere indoors (save your own house and car) and the doom and gloom predicted by the bar and pub owners (the last bastion to be made smoke free) never materialized. The non-smokers came back to fill in the gap.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness Europe is finally catching up.
JMB, the British licensed trade is doing very badly, but for lots of reasons, not just the smoking ban.
ReplyDeleteJames nice to see you back. Happy New year. I hope your mission for the SVRR went well and you are safely back at home.
ReplyDeletejmb, a pub has closed where I live and I know the manager there. No non smokers came in to replace the smokers he lost and now a group of people are out of work and the community no longer has a place for people to meet and hold parties and things.
He did have other problems as well though such a police insistence on certain rules not necessary by law but by our local council and police. But he puts the blame for the drop in customers on the smoking ban. One of the annoying things for him is his pub was split in two for years, smoking and non smoking. Yet the non smoking side was never really used except for food.
From my own personal point of view I love the fact that there is no smoking in UK pubs and restaurants now, but am still conscious of the fact that I am having my own way at the expense of other people being denied theirs.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame we can't accommodate everyone's wishes, unfortunately that doesn't seem to be possible, but I still feel sorry for smokers who cower outside the pubs in all weathers, simply to have a cigarette.
In France I suspect they might just carry on regardless anyway, as they seem to do with most regulations that don't appeal.
James,
ReplyDeleteI feel embarrassed to say this but I didn't even know the health was going down. Sorry, I hope you are better! I'm with you 100% of the way on this over-regulation nonsense. My grandma died of lung cancer. My parents both smoke (although not as often). However, my grandpa owned a restaurant for 40 years. I agree with him: businesses, not the gov't, should be the ones to decide what goes on in their places (ie smoking!). One of the reasons I think so many people are pushed to conservative/libertarian ideals here in the US (although that's my opinion, not a back able fact!) is people are sick of regulations galore! I know we have it better than all of you in the EU (which I will soon be residing there, fyi!) but still, it's enough to make me scream. Maybe I'll just take smoking up over there so when I get back to Purdue in the fall I can blow some smoke in someone's face and laugh (as we don't have a campus wide ban yet, just 30 feet of no enforcement!). I'm pessimistic for November; March is looking more promising (if you know what I mean!). Also, regarding believing the American dream (response to your comment on the NAU post), I believe it. Why? My dad is living proof. Best wishes for the new year to all!
It's hard to imagine some of those places without the smoke. I can remember sitting in the 2 Magots for hours when I was 19 and Sartre and de Beauvoir inconsiderately did not turn up - but the smoke definitely did me no good!
ReplyDeleteAre they banning it on the terrasses then? That's still allowed here.
We don't go to the pub very often now. I would rather smoke at home in the warmth, than freeze outside. Shades is right to say there are many reasons why the licenced trade in having a bad time at the moment, but the smoking ban is not helping, just as it is not helping in the cafe I sometimes frequent for a good-old full English breakfast. The owner noticed a sharp fall in customers after the smoking ban came in to force and things still haven't improved for him.
ReplyDeleteAhhhh- Paris will never be the same, young men louchely drawing deeply on gitanes, young woman pouting provocatively with small black cheeroots, surly waiters and strong coffee. Not to mention the huge amount of old yellowing people on crutches due to smoking related poor circulation. Guthrum- reformed pipe smoker (missing the peaceful puff even after ten years !)
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