Smoking ban hits France, Germany

FOR years, anyone needing a nicotine fix in a German pub or French cafe didn’t even have to light up — the air was already so full of smoke that they only had to open their mouth and inhale.

But that all changes today when strict bans take effect in two of western Europe’s final bastions for smokers, Germany and France. There was long and fierce resistance to the prohibitions on tobacco that other countries imposed.

“When I have a beer I want to smoke, and if I can’t smoke here anymore, I won’t come anymore,” said Hans Dorsmann, a Berlin salesman summing up a view that has made small pub operators fear for their businesses.

Even though smoking bans led to increased pub and restaurant business in other countries, the argument seemed to fall on deaf ears in Germany and France, where any infringement of the right to smoke was sometimes viewed as an attack on freedom.

From January 1 smoking will be banned in pubs and restaurants in 11 of Germany’s 16 states — exemptions given only to those with separate closed-off rooms. Most other states will follow during 2008.

In France, smoking in shops, offices and other public places has been banned since February 1, but a special exemption for bars and cafes has been in place until January 1.

With some 15 million smokers in France, there has been plenty of outrage at the law that foresees fines of €68 on smokers and up to €750 for cafe managers.

“Soon they’ll ban alcohol and you’ll need to bring in your latest blood tests to eat in a restaurant,” said Francis Attrazic, vice president of the hospitality industry association UMIH.