Say goodbye to the tradition of puffing on Gauloises at Paris cafes: Beginning Tuesday, France becomes the latest nation to introduce a complete smoking ban in restaurants, hotels, and nightclubs. The ban has widespread support, although diehard smokers are threatening to fight it. "I cannot stand the idea of a hygienic, clean, and, sorry to say, 'American style' society," one smoking advocate told Bloomberg.
A poll conducted for France's National Institute of Health found that an overwhelming 71% wanted cigarettes out of cafes, and even more favored clean air in restaurants. Less than a quarter of French citizens smoke. Berlin and Munich will also go smoke-free in 2008 as 11 German states introduce smoking bans. (More smoking ban stories.)