From what I remember about Paris (and my memory sucks), smoking is allowed most everywhere, either freely or in designated sections: hotels, restaurants, cafes, airports, cabs, theaters, etc. But on Sunday, Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin announced a new smoking ban in schools, public buildings and offices around France as early as next February. Anyone caught violating the ban could be slapped with a fine of 75 euros (about $94.50). I thought the New York and New Jersey bans were tough news, but man, those French people really like smoking. I wonder how this will shake out.
Mainly I’m worried about David Sedaris, who if I recall his essays correctly, moved from New York City to France in part to escape the grip of smoking laws here. This, remember, is a guy from a family in which the children would receive cartons of menthol cigarettes from Santa at Christmas.