The big news (bon, besides North Korea's nuclear bomb....) is that France has decided to ban smoking in all public places, starting in February 2007. That's only four months away.
Don't get excited yet. The smokers hang out in bars, nightclubs and restaurants, and those places are allowed to stay smoggy until January 2008. By which time there may be a new president of France, who may change the rules back.... 
But probably not. The grownups have all quit by now, or are trying hard.
The restaurants here have gradually become less smoky since I first arrived. Older smokers are on the run. But I've learned to dread having a young woman sit next to me. Her first move after she sits down is usually to fumble in her purse for her cigarette pack. I estimate that 80% or more of Parisiennes between 18 and 25 are smokers.
Remember that book French Women Don't Get Fat? It's true, they don't. But the real diet secret of all those beautiful, filiforme girls you see in Paris is the clope.
I was still quite bothered by the smoke in France during our recent trip. It's very high on my list of things I can't deal with in France. It's very hard to imagine they will ever quit. What annoyed me most was all the people I saw smoking with little kids in tow.
Posted by: Jessica | 09 October 2006 at 13:35
I was going to say "I'll believe it when the French start cleaning up after their dogs!" Then I noticed your previous post *chuckle*
Posted by: misschrisc | 09 October 2006 at 14:12
As much as I cannot stand cigarrette or cigar smoke, I'm not quite sure France will be the same without it! For some reason it never bothered me as much there. It's just so, well, romantically FRENCH....you sit, you talk, you eat, you drink, you read, and you smoke! Oui, Oui, Oui! Of course, I don't like to hear about people dying, either...so ultimately it's for the best!
Posted by: Jeffrey Zacko-Smith | 09 October 2006 at 23:03
Yes, I know how you feel when a group of young women sits next to me. The first thing that happens are the packs of cigarettes slapping down on the table (followed by les portables and their silly ringtones.) I don't even mind smoke that much, but when someone next to me has 6 or 7 cigarettes during dinner, it becomes a bit much.
Too bad the government went into 'retreat mode' instead of just enacting it as originally planned, which gives everyone more time to rler.
Posted by: David | 10 October 2006 at 06:42
Your point about the ever slim French girls being due to the 'clope diet' is something I have been pointing out to friends for a while. Thank you!
Posted by: oiseau | 10 October 2006 at 11:57
will the french gain weight as they attempt to quit?
Posted by: coupon man | 11 October 2006 at 01:11
I'm french, I don't smoke, and I'm not fat. Don't eat so much hamburgers and you'll understand why. Vous voyez, je travaille comme vous sur les clichés !
Posted by: aimzon | 11 October 2006 at 11:45
What will I do?
I have been enjoying my ristretto + book + cigarette since I was in high school (that's the point were you reckon I am French...). This has always been a time just for me, going out on Boulevard Montparnasse, checking the books at the book shops and entering my favorite cafe were the waiter would show me his children's last pictures and bring me extra chocolate with my coffee. It just won't be the same without the malboro which was going on so well with my ristret'.
For me there won't be any point in going there again if only to get frustrated. When they first said that the professionals claim they would lose clients I laughed. Now that I think of it... they certainly are going to lose me... sorry!
Posted by: Nab | 14 October 2006 at 12:06