France has finally taken the leap and banned smoking in restaurants cafes and bars. From 1st January 2008 it will be illegal, although outside areas such as terraces and under pavement awnings are exempt.

It's been a long time coming; in an attempt to curb smoking October 2003 saw a 20% government hike in cigarette prices. Recently on 1st February 2007 a national ban on smoking in public was imposed covering airports, railway stations, hospitals, offices and schools, but leaving the restaurant business another year to get used to the idea. Now crunch time has come, and this to a nation that traditionally has linked smoking with chic sophistication and romance. French teenagers smoke more than any others in Europe, with over 50% of 15 to 25 year olds indulging.

The issue of passive smoking is at the core the of the ban. Although it is widely misunderstood to mean breathing in 2nd hand smoke, studies show the reality is 85% of smoke in a room has not been inhaled, but comes directly from the burning tip of cigarettes.

Tobacco smoke contains over 4000 chemicals in the form of particles and gases.  Airborne particles include tar, nicotine and benzene. The gases include carbon monoxide, ammonia, formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide.  At minimum the tissues of the respiratory system are irritated, at worst it has been linked to causing cancer. The USA Environmental Protection Agency has classified tobacco smoke as a class A carcinogen.