France has generally dragged its feet on the introduction of laws on smoking. The industry employs many thousands of workers and the government receives huge tax revenues from the tobacco manufacturers. A law banning smoking in restaurants and bars that serve food, on the statute book since 1992, has frequently been flouted. However a new report for the ministry of health by l'Inspection générale des affaires sociales (Igas), estimating the number of deaths annually not from smokers themselves but from people inhaling their tobacco smoke at between 3,000 and 5,000, has prompted a rigorous new campaign.

Under proposed new laws, many more unannounced inspections by local health and social officials would take place on premises where smoking is banned. The only exceptions permitted would be entirely segregated smoking rooms, or fumoirs. Igas is not content with this, pointing out that some workers still have to enter fumoirs to serve drinks and clean up, and is pressing for a total ban on smoking in all public places. In a recent poll, eight out of ten people in France declared themselves in favour of such a law, so this seems only a matter of time. Some MPs want to go further, to introduce a comprehensive ban on smoking anywhere in offices, but the government is uneasy at appearing to dictate to the trade unions. As for the prolific smoker, he or she risks becoming a social and political pariah, but whether this will be sufficient to persuade them to give up the noxious weed seems unlikely.