Smoking Bans Take Effect in Portugal & France

Via BBC -

A widespread ban has come into force in France on smoking in workplaces.

People lighting up in airports, railway stations, hospitals, schools, shops and offices will face fines. Restaurants and bars have until December to comply.

The BBC Paris correspondent says 70% of people in France say they favour the ban as do half of all smokers.

France is the latest in a long line of European countries - including Italy and Ireland - to introduce complete or partial bans on smoking in public.

In 2004, Ireland became the first European country to introduce a comprehensive ban in all workplaces, including pubs and restaurants.

Sweden, Italy and Malta followed suit with their own wide-ranging public bans.

Although there is no anti-smoking policy at European level, the EU's executive in Brussels has indicated it would welcome steps towards pan-European norms.

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Meanwhile in Portugal, the head of the Portuguese agency responsible for enforcing a new ban on smoking in public was seen lighting up at a New Year party, breaking the law on the first day it came into effect.