France to ban smoking in public places!!!
Oct 8th, 2006 | 08:01 PM
#1
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France to ban smoking in public places!!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6032125.stm?ls
Wow! And I thought the Europeans were much less hung up on public smoking than Americans! But like many American tourists, I'll enjoy a smoke-free environment and not having to worry about choking in half the restaurants I visit.
Thoughts?
Wow! And I thought the Europeans were much less hung up on public smoking than Americans! But like many American tourists, I'll enjoy a smoke-free environment and not having to worry about choking in half the restaurants I visit.
Thoughts?
Oct 8th, 2006 | 08:07 PM
#2
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Here we go again ...
Italy, Ireland, etc already banned smoking in most public places ....
Smoke contains 60+ known air-borne carcinogens that injure and kill non-smokers, so it's a workplace & public safety measure that makes perfect sense.
Please, nicotine addicts, don't embarrass yourselves with pathetic slippery slope "arguments" and whines about "private businesses." Private workplaces are heavily regulated ... just add this smart and worthwhile measure to the list.
Italy, Ireland, etc already banned smoking in most public places ....
Smoke contains 60+ known air-borne carcinogens that injure and kill non-smokers, so it's a workplace & public safety measure that makes perfect sense.
Please, nicotine addicts, don't embarrass yourselves with pathetic slippery slope "arguments" and whines about "private businesses." Private workplaces are heavily regulated ... just add this smart and worthwhile measure to the list.
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Oct 9th, 2006 | 04:34 AM
#5
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Oh great, gekko, I have a small B&B in northern Australia and right now I have 10 guests, 5 of them French and currently puffing their heads off, not inside house, on airy balconies. Technically under draconian updated anti-smoking laws in the state where I live I could probably be sent out of business for allowing this. Under the law of this state I'm supposed to butt in(no pun intended) like a busy, nasty landlady, wreck these people's evening and send them to bed in disgrace. Like naughty children. From past experience with French guests, they won't put up with it, and neither will our many Asian guests.
Oct 9th, 2006 | 07:04 AM
#7
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Forget smoking, the one thing I can't work out is the no drinking outside in the US. A bottle of wine with a picnic in the park is a fundamental and inalienable human right.......
Tried ordering a glass of Bordeau at a branch of "Au Bon Pain" (it is a French style café right?) and almost got arrested.
Saw an American couple walk out of a MacDonalds in Montpellier because it served beer...Nuts!
(As a PS why do Americans order wine by the grape, rather than by region as the French do "A Chardonnay please" as opposed to a "Chablis". French? Chilean?, Australian? South African? A new one? A vintage? A good one? A bad one? It's a bit like going into a butchers and asking for "some meat please"
Tried ordering a glass of Bordeau at a branch of "Au Bon Pain" (it is a French style café right?) and almost got arrested.
Saw an American couple walk out of a MacDonalds in Montpellier because it served beer...Nuts!
(As a PS why do Americans order wine by the grape, rather than by region as the French do "A Chardonnay please" as opposed to a "Chablis". French? Chilean?, Australian? South African? A new one? A vintage? A good one? A bad one? It's a bit like going into a butchers and asking for "some meat please"
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Oct 9th, 2006 | 07:13 AM
#8
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"(As a PS why do Americans order wine by the grape, rather than by region as the French do. . ."
Because they're not IN Europe and things are different here? We all know what a Bordeaux is or a Burgundy -- but who ever heard of a Sonoma or an Oregon?
Wouldn't it be a bit odd to walk into a bar and say "I'll have a glass of Napa please?" or "Give me a Sonoma, if you will". Your seemingly logical attempt to insult Americans because things are different here than there is very weak in my opinion.
Because they're not IN Europe and things are different here? We all know what a Bordeaux is or a Burgundy -- but who ever heard of a Sonoma or an Oregon?
Wouldn't it be a bit odd to walk into a bar and say "I'll have a glass of Napa please?" or "Give me a Sonoma, if you will". Your seemingly logical attempt to insult Americans because things are different here than there is very weak in my opinion.
Oct 9th, 2006 | 07:25 AM
#9
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When it comes to the US and drinking laws, you can't paint with a broad brush as this is a subject that is regulated by state and local laws, not federal.
In most places, drinking outside is not banned, per se. However, possesion of alcoholic beverages is banned in many public parks (not to keep folks from having a class of wine with a picnic, but to prevent rowdy beer swilling crowds from gathering there and running off families). Also, most states require premises to be licensed for either on premises consumption (bars, restaurants) or off premises consumption (package stores, groceries, etc.), but rarely both. So, if you are consuming a drink at a bar or restaurant, you usually can't take it with you when you leave, and, conversly, when you buy a bottle of wine at a liquor store, you can't open it up until you leave the premises.
In most places, drinking outside is not banned, per se. However, possesion of alcoholic beverages is banned in many public parks (not to keep folks from having a class of wine with a picnic, but to prevent rowdy beer swilling crowds from gathering there and running off families). Also, most states require premises to be licensed for either on premises consumption (bars, restaurants) or off premises consumption (package stores, groceries, etc.), but rarely both. So, if you are consuming a drink at a bar or restaurant, you usually can't take it with you when you leave, and, conversly, when you buy a bottle of wine at a liquor store, you can't open it up until you leave the premises.
Oct 9th, 2006 | 07:28 AM
#10
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New Yorkers drink in our parks all the time, in plain site (think Philharmonic in Central Park); the law is ignored.
And I just read in the Times that only 25% of adults in France smoke, but 66,000 died from smoking-caused illnesses in 2005.
<b>66,000</b>
And I just read in the Times that only 25% of adults in France smoke, but 66,000 died from smoking-caused illnesses in 2005.
<b>66,000</b>
Oct 9th, 2006 | 07:33 AM
#11
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"As a PS why do Americans order wine by the grape, rather than by region as the French do "A Chardonnay please" "
Wow this comment show a complete lack of wine knowledge of some the world greatest wines.
Sonoma, one those regions, produces wines that would resemble wine of every region in europe, growing some 20 different french, italian, german and spanish varieties. Actually many Californians drink imports as often as local wines but our sytem of labeling giving the varietal on the label makes it much easier to get what you like even if you don't happen to be an expert.
Wow this comment show a complete lack of wine knowledge of some the world greatest wines.
Sonoma, one those regions, produces wines that would resemble wine of every region in europe, growing some 20 different french, italian, german and spanish varieties. Actually many Californians drink imports as often as local wines but our sytem of labeling giving the varietal on the label makes it much easier to get what you like even if you don't happen to be an expert.
Oct 9th, 2006 | 07:56 AM
#12
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"Wouldn't it be a bit odd to walk into a bar and say "I'll have a glass of Napa please?" or "Give me a Sonoma, if you will".
Not odd at all. And no insult to the Americans, or their wine, intended. Just an observation of difference.
Not odd at all. And no insult to the Americans, or their wine, intended. Just an observation of difference.
Oct 9th, 2006 | 10:56 AM
#13
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The French recognize their wines by region and the Americans by Grape. In some cases the name designates the type of grape. Ordering a glass of "Napa" or a glass of "California" could bring you anything since these area make white, red and rose.
Frankly when I hear people order a glass of Chardonnay or "red wine" it frustrates me because these people have no idea what they are ordering. It could be a cheap chardonnay like Yellow Tail or something they cannot afford like a fine Napa or Santa Barbara wine.
Back to the point of the original post, I am thrilled that France will now become non-smoking. Welcome to Califorina! Who ever said that smoking was associated with France and part of their culture. No everyone can breathe easier and those who choose to ruin other peoples meals and health with their cancer sticks can go stand out in the cold.
Its funny I flew into San Francisco last week and the flight attendant announced, "Welcome to San Francisco, please refrain from smoking until you are in a designated area outside the state of California."
I guess you can go to Germany and smoke but now that the big two smoking countries have gone smokeless, can the others be far behind?
There is always Asia!
Frankly when I hear people order a glass of Chardonnay or "red wine" it frustrates me because these people have no idea what they are ordering. It could be a cheap chardonnay like Yellow Tail or something they cannot afford like a fine Napa or Santa Barbara wine.
Back to the point of the original post, I am thrilled that France will now become non-smoking. Welcome to Califorina! Who ever said that smoking was associated with France and part of their culture. No everyone can breathe easier and those who choose to ruin other peoples meals and health with their cancer sticks can go stand out in the cold.
Its funny I flew into San Francisco last week and the flight attendant announced, "Welcome to San Francisco, please refrain from smoking until you are in a designated area outside the state of California."
I guess you can go to Germany and smoke but now that the big two smoking countries have gone smokeless, can the others be far behind?
There is always Asia!
Oct 9th, 2006 | 11:12 AM
#14
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In all honesty I think the real reason many just say "I'll have a glass of Chardonnay" is because until recently and even now in only the better places there isn't much choice of wine by the glass. I think it's fine to ask for the glass of Chardonnay and then hope the server gives you a couple options or hands you a "wines by the glass list".
Meanwhile I'm reminded of the time I asked what wine they had by the glass and the girl said "red and white". I asked what the red was and she said "it's wine". I asked where it comes from and she said, "from a bottle I think". And even at the very upscale Bice restaurant here in Naples (LilMsFoodie can back me up on this, she was with me at the time) I asked what reds they had by the glass and the guy said they had a special one from "near Italy". We looked at each other and I asked "where exactly" to which he replied "Spain." Fortunately things are getting better all the time along those lines!
Meanwhile -- HOORAY for the news about no smoking in France!
Meanwhile I'm reminded of the time I asked what wine they had by the glass and the girl said "red and white". I asked what the red was and she said "it's wine". I asked where it comes from and she said, "from a bottle I think". And even at the very upscale Bice restaurant here in Naples (LilMsFoodie can back me up on this, she was with me at the time) I asked what reds they had by the glass and the guy said they had a special one from "near Italy". We looked at each other and I asked "where exactly" to which he replied "Spain." Fortunately things are getting better all the time along those lines!
Meanwhile -- HOORAY for the news about no smoking in France!
Oct 11th, 2006 | 06:57 AM
#18
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<The health of Scotland's bar staff has improved dramatically since the introduction of a smoking ban, a medical study has found>
from a BBC News article online, goes on to detail health benefits of a no-smoking workplace.
from a BBC News article online, goes on to detail health benefits of a no-smoking workplace.
