“Défense De Fumer” – Ça Marche
- September 7th, 2008
- Posted by Guillaume Benoist
France has joined the smoking-bans league of countries since February this year — and despite some predictable grumbling, the move is promising astounding prospects on the health front.
Since 1.2.09, for starters, it’s been forbidden in France to smoke in all close and open public places, with some exceptions that cover casinos, cafés, hotels or restaurants.
Next year it will be totally illegal to smoke in public places, which, according to the DNF (Droits des non-fumeurs – the Rights of Non-Smokers organisation) , will be welcomed with open arms.
The non-smokers say they have conducted a poll showing that 82% of the French public already consider the prohibition of smoking in public places a good thing.
The polling shows the number of smokers has dropped by 13% in the last year.
(“Smoking kills” … Health warnings plastered on long-time favourites like Gaulloises can have a sobering effect).
The interdiction — that sweeping ban on having a smoke out in public — is not the only cause for this drop in the number of smokers: prices of cigarettes have increased with taxes, and smokers can face a €68 fine if caught offending the new law.
While stalwarts of signature French brands — the toasty, tarry fumes of Gauloises, Gitanes and Disque Bleu come to mind — express their regrets, younger French people are leading the new trend: the younger you are, the less will be your likely daily consumption.
(Disque Bleu – gone from the Tabac kiosks already).
Already research evidence is pointing to considerable health benefits for Marianne.
Recent years have seen a 15% drop in the number of patients with heart attacks, according to Prof Jean Pierre Bassand, Head of Cardiology at the University Hospital of Besançon.
“The swift reduction of heart attacks and strokes in France is very good news indeed!”, he said, a sentiment no doubt echoed by many erstwhile, potential patients.
His research on the smoking ban, and health, has been confirmed by the European Society of Cardiology, through its spokesperson, David Thomas.
“To me, the most striking aspect in this study is the reduction of pollution inside cafes and restaurants by over 35%”, he said.
“Passive smoking has been shown to increase the risk of coronary heart disease and the recent smoking ban is obviously having a beneficial effect on both smokers and non-smokers.”
(Promo girls for Gauloises; they are in the biggest non-smoking category, the younger French).
France is not the only country in the European Union to have created a ban on smoking in public places; similar results can be identified in Italy, Sweden or Greece.
Reference:
Danger Sante (Danger to Health); http://www.danger-sante.org/tag/interdiction-de-fumer-lieux-publics/, (12.9.08)
“Heart attack rates fall following national smoking bans”, Science Daily,Rockville MD, USA, 26.2.08; http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080226102607.htm;(12.9.08)