France has decided against banning smoking in bars and bistros.
Smoking bans have been rolled out across the world from southern New Zealand to northern Canada but French smokers will not be forced out into the cold like their neighbours.
The French government decided this week against banning smoking in bars, bistros and other public places.
After weeks of strikes and student demos over employment law many people in France feel the Government has backed away from introducing another potentially controversial law.
Also, existing laws which require cafes and restaurants to provide separate smoking areas are widely ignored.
Now, instead of pursuing a total ban, Health Minister Xavier Bertrand has announced "months of vast consultation" on the way forward.
Anti-smoking groups have accused the government of cowardice.
More than half of French adults smoked during the 1980s, but that figure is now down to around 30%.
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Your CommentsAlastair Elliott via email 18/04/2006"Its a pity that we British have not shown the fight that the French have shown, what has happened to the fighting spirit that we had under Winston Churchill, the British government knows it can get away with bullying the general public in France they know they will not get away with it."
Robert Feal-Martinez via email 18/04/2006"Anti-smoking groups have accused the government of cowardice.'
Typical response from the Pro Ban/Anti Smoking lobby, they can lie, manipulate science, scare the public, abuse children in adverts and demonise a legal activity but as soon as a country says no to them they behave like spoilt children. So the two (Germany) most pro European countries are rebelling against this pernicious social engineering. Lets hope now other follow suit including England, Wales and Northern Ireland. At least French and German politicians realise that the Power of the People should be listened too. The Public do not want bans in Hospitality outlets just choice. May I also say that if the Person from Leeds who sent me an abusive letter on a Freedom to Choose Petition wishes to be given credibility, perhaps they could learn to firstly write in a legible manner and more importantly not be a coward hiding behind anonymity. The author would be interested to know that thousands do not share his view. He is only one of two showing dissent at what Freedom to Choose is trying to achieve. The French and Germans are showing the way, lets hope Great Britain follows."