Hi Q,

>I'm picturing a cold, rainy night with him in pajamas and a rain coat, boots, scarf, hat, umbrella and a cigarette standing outside some hotel ...<

I go out for my last smoke before putting on PJs. :)

((I))

I love it when people insist on sitting in a non smoking car of a train or whatever but don't give 2 thoughts to running off to a legal, hopefully becoming fewer and fewer, smoking place to puff on their cancer sticks.

Of course, it's also a safety issue as how many times have we read tragedies caused by these idiots smoking in bed and while it is unfortunate if they lose their lives these fires kill many others.

nytraveler said, "And I am not aware of anywhere in western europe where you can smoke on public transit."

Since I think of public transit ("public conveyances" in the OP's parlance) as inclusive of inter-city train service, I added what I know about smoking on them.

And my statement was not intended to apply to all carriers on all routes in all countries. I empoyed the adjective "most" to indicate that no universal proscriptions exist.

In Germany we saw people smoking all over the place. Every beer garden and outdoor cafe, it seemed like half the people were smoking. There was a lot of smoking inside restaurants too. I didn't see any smoking on public transport. We had non-smoking rooms in our hotels, but there were smoking rooms in all the places we stayed as well.

@ kevin_widrow : i don't know whee you get yout informations from but
<<< Smoking Ban in France for restaurants, cafes, bars, hotel etc will start in 2008 - not 2007. 2007 applies to hospitals, schools, trains, airports.<<<

Smoking Ban in France for restaurants, cafes, bars, hotel etc will start in 2007
Smoking is banned (and it is enforced) in hospitals, schools, trains since 2004
some airports still have smoking zones but most are non smoking, you still have smoking zones in universities

Norween -

It's prety much common knowledge around here, but if you don't believe me, a quick google search will come up with plenty of sites listing the new law. For example, from the LCI web site:

http://tinyurl.com/yhdth3


-Kevin

The delay (until 21 december 2007) for bar-tabacs (bar-tobacconists), night clubs and hotels is still under discussion (some senators try to have it cancelled) and smoking IS banned in hospitals, schools, trains since 2004

Several chains of hotels are also going completely smoke free because of the lack of interest. Marriott reported that 97% of their room reservations were for NON-SMOKING so they went smoke free. I'll bet their fire insurance dropped also.

Norween - not to belabor the point, but since you posted:

Here's the PM announcing the ban -

Dominique de Villepin : ... on pourra toujours fumer dans la rue. La mesure concernera, au 1er février 2007, les écoles, les lycées, les collèges, les administrations, les entreprises, les magasins, y compris les cours de récréation. Et bien sûr, dans les lieux privés, la possibilité de fumer restera entière.

(so apparently smoking had nopt yet been banned in schools)

and here is a long list of hospitals declaring themselves "hôpitaux sans tabac" http://tinyurl.com/tp6g4
all of which took place this may.

-Kevin

I think we need to remember the difference between

banned through legislation
banned through policy of the organisation

For example, smoking isn't yet legally banned in Britain yet it has been banned on public transport for many years.

Yes, makes sense. Banning smoking cigarettes and legalizing cannabis. Sigh, the UK govt has lost the plot.

Pot isn't legal - it's decriminalised, sort of. There's a difference.

The only places that indoor smoking will be allowed in the UK, other than private homes, are prisons and locked psychiatric wards.

I'm sure there's a message in there somewhere.

Wow! I knew there was controversy and some confusion, but not quite this much. Just to add to it, when I suggested to the "expert" (travel agent) that it was important to us to request a room where DH could smoke she said "that's not necessary; everyone smokes everywhere all over Europe." I was able, with your help, to tell her the times were a'changin', that I needed "smoking room" specified, and that "Europe" despite the euro is not one homogeneous location. She should have known, but don't get me started on that.

Anyway, many thanks, and Ira, I will pass along the suggestion about the best state of dress for that last cigarette!

I was just in Bologna - and no smoking was allowed (or occuring) in restaurants (yeah)