Many adults in France are in favour of stricter regulations for the public consumption of tobacco, according to a poll by Ifop. 77 per cent of respondents support the proposal to ban smoking in restaurants.

In addition, 66 per cent of respondents are in favour of a smoking ban in cafes, bars and brasseries, and 61 per cent support it in discotheques and night clubs.

Last month, health minister Xavier Bertrand announced his plan to ban smoking in workplaces and restaurants, while allowing people to consume tobacco in casinos, night clubs and certain bars. In France, every bar and restaurant has been ordered to provide a non-smoking area since 1991. This year, smoking was forbidden in all French rail service trains.

Spain and Italy have introduced smoking bans over the past two years. In April, French president Jacques Chirac said his government would look into a prohibition, declaring, “These addictions are major cancer causes. They are diseases and should be treated as such.”

A parliamentary commission tasked with looking into the possibility of enacting a smoking ban in France has not decided whether the issue should be settled by law or through a government decree.

Source: Angus Reid