Les fumeurs vow to resist attack on a 'fundamental French right'

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...326370,00.html

The Times August 24, 2006

Les fumeurs vow to resist attack on a 'fundamental French right'
By Adam Sage in Paris
FRENCH smokers were in belligerent mood yesterday after the Government
made what they described as an attack on a fundamental Gallic right
when it moved to ban them from lighting up in public places.

After months of dithering over one of the most contentious issues
facing the French Cabinet, Xavier Bertrand, the Health Minister, said
that the ban would be approved in October and come into force next
January.

His announcement drew a furious reaction from Gérard Martini, the
joint manager of L'Idéal Bar in central Paris. "We're not going
to accept it. We're going to rebel. This is going to be a
revolution," said M Martini, walking across a thick layer of
cigarette stubs.

M Bertrand sought to appease les fumeurs with a concession that
cigarettes would still be allowed in some bars, although not L'Ideal,
and in discotheques and casinos. Amid signs of growing public
exasperation with campaigns against alcohol and tobacco, the minister
said the restriction would be introduced by decree rather than
legislation, thus avoiding an inflamma- tory parliamentary debate.

"I am convinced that the ban is something people want," said M
Bertrand, adding that tobacco killed 66,000 people in France each year.

His supporters say that France was duty-bound to follow England,
Scotland, Ireland, Spain and Italy in banning smoking in public places
after Jacques Chirac made the fight against cancer a central theme of
his presidency.

But some MPs have warned the minister that the land of Gauloises and
Gitanes has a unique relationship with the cigarette that will be
broken at his own peril. Many backbenchers are urging him to ditch a
measure which they say could cost the Centre Right next year's
presidential and legislative elections.

The late French singer Serge Gainsbourg once said that his countrymen
were unhappy when they were not smoking, and his words were borne out
in L'Idéal yesterday. "We're governed by idiots," said M
Martini. "They've already knocked 30 per cent off our sales with
their campaigns against drink-driving. Now, they're going to take
another 50 per cent off with the ban on smoking.

"People come in here for a cigarette and drink to wind down after
work. If they can't have the cigarette, they won't have the drink.
We're going to be hit hard by this."

Putting down a half-smoked Marlboro to serve a plate of poulet fermier,
gratin dauphinois and tomate provençale, Marie-France De Sousa, the
joint manager of L'Idéal, agreed. "It's an attack on our
fundamental freedom. This bar is ours and we should be able to do what
we like in it."

According to official statistics, about 12.7 million French people are
smokers. The Government tried to curb the habit with a 50 per cent
increase in tobacco taxes two years ago. But M Bertrand says that a ban
is still necessary. Under his plan, cigarettes will be forbidden on all
public transport and in restaurants, bistros, brasseries, cafés and
hotels. However, they will be permitted in France's 34,000 bars-
tabacs - the bars with a state licence to sell tobacco.

The concession was criticised by Yves Martinet, chairman of the
National Committee against Tobacco Addiction. "The message being sent
out to the public is confused."

BREAKING HABITS

# 66,000 deaths a year in France due to smoking

# There are 150,000 deaths predicted annually by 2020 on current trends
53 per cent of 15 to 24-year-olds smoke in France - the highest
proportion in Europe

# There was a 2.8 per cent increase in tobacco sales in France in the
first five months of this year

# Ireland was among the first countries in Europe to introduce tough
laws banning smoking in pubs, restaurants and other enclosed spaces in
March 2004. Sweden introduced a ban in May last year

hey padraig this is really on topic, n'est ce pas ?
Just post anything as long as it happens in Europe and it is OK
That newportcrapman imitates evleth but brings nothing, we also get the news
at home

"Corgi bit me 'nads" a écrit dans le message de
news: ...
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...326370,00.html

The Times August 24, 2006

Les fumeurs vow to resist attack on a 'fundamental French right'
By Adam Sage in Paris
FRENCH smokers were in belligerent mood yesterday after the Government
made what they described as an attack on a fundamental Gallic right
when it moved to ban them from lighting up in public places.

After months of dithering over one of the most contentious issues
facing the French Cabinet, Xavier Bertrand, the Health Minister, said
that the ban would be approved in October and come into force next
January.

His announcement drew a furious reaction from Gérard Martini, the
joint manager of L'Idéal Bar in central Paris. "We're not going
to accept it. We're going to rebel. This is going to be a
revolution," said M Martini, walking across a thick layer of
cigarette stubs.

M Bertrand sought to appease les fumeurs with a concession that
cigarettes would still be allowed in some bars, although not L'Ideal,
and in discotheques and casinos. Amid signs of growing public
exasperation with campaigns against alcohol and tobacco, the minister
said the restriction would be introduced by decree rather than
legislation, thus avoiding an inflamma- tory parliamentary debate.

"I am convinced that the ban is something people want," said M
Bertrand, adding that tobacco killed 66,000 people in France each year.

His supporters say that France was duty-bound to follow England,
Scotland, Ireland, Spain and Italy in banning smoking in public places
after Jacques Chirac made the fight against cancer a central theme of
his presidency.

But some MPs have warned the minister that the land of Gauloises and
Gitanes has a unique relationship with the cigarette that will be
broken at his own peril. Many backbenchers are urging him to ditch a
measure which they say could cost the Centre Right next year's
presidential and legislative elections.

The late French singer Serge Gainsbourg once said that his countrymen
were unhappy when they were not smoking, and his words were borne out
in L'Idéal yesterday. "We're governed by idiots," said M
Martini. "They've already knocked 30 per cent off our sales with
their campaigns against drink-driving. Now, they're going to take
another 50 per cent off with the ban on smoking.

"People come in here for a cigarette and drink to wind down after
work. If they can't have the cigarette, they won't have the drink.
We're going to be hit hard by this."

Putting down a half-smoked Marlboro to serve a plate of poulet fermier,
gratin dauphinois and tomate provençale, Marie-France De Sousa, the
joint manager of L'Idéal, agreed. "It's an attack on our
fundamental freedom. This bar is ours and we should be able to do what
we like in it."

According to official statistics, about 12.7 million French people are
smokers. The Government tried to curb the habit with a 50 per cent
increase in tobacco taxes two years ago. But M Bertrand says that a ban
is still necessary. Under his plan, cigarettes will be forbidden on all
public transport and in restaurants, bistros, brasseries, cafés and
hotels. However, they will be permitted in France's 34,000 bars-
tabacs - the bars with a state licence to sell tobacco.

The concession was criticised by Yves Martinet, chairman of the
National Committee against Tobacco Addiction. "The message being sent
out to the public is confused."

BREAKING HABITS

# 66,000 deaths a year in France due to smoking

# There are 150,000 deaths predicted annually by 2020 on current trends
53 per cent of 15 to 24-year-olds smoke in France - the highest
proportion in Europe

# There was a 2.8 per cent increase in tobacco sales in France in the
first five months of this year

# Ireland was among the first countries in Europe to introduce tough
laws banning smoking in pubs, restaurants and other enclosed spaces in
March 2004. Sweden introduced a ban in May last year

Corgi bit me 'nads wrote:

But some MPs have warned the minister that the land of Gauloises and
Gitanes has a unique relationship with the cigarette that will be
broken at his own peril. Many backbenchers are urging him to ditch a
measure which they say could cost the Centre Right next year's
presidential and legislative elections.


Could that "unique relationship" have anything to do with the fact that
the French government have a monopoly on tobacco production, and of
course the healthy tax they raise on its' sale?

On 24/08/06 15:32, in article , "Mike
O'Sullivan" wrote:

Could that "unique relationship" have anything to do with the fact that
the French government have a monopoly on tobacco production, and of
course the healthy tax they raise on its' sale?


Monopoly in what sense? American cigarettes are
sold in France. They have a monopoly on distribution similar
to what exists with alcohol in some US states.

Since the health costs of tobbaism is in excess of the
tax revenues, reducing its consumption would be profitable
to the government.

Since the health costs of tobbaism is in excess of the
tax revenues, reducing its consumption would be profitable
to the government.


You are fogetting the massive pension reduction benefits.

"*~* Magda *~*" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 24 Aug 2006 15:25:50 +0100, in rec.travel.europe, "Miss L. Toe"
arranged some electrons, so they looked
like this:

...
...
... Since the health costs of tobbaism is in excess of the
... tax revenues, reducing its consumption would be profitable
... to the government.
...
...
... You are fogetting the massive pension reduction benefits.

You forget that the young ones die too; not only the old ones...


So they never get to claim their pensions...
Hence the saving

"*~* Magda *~*" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 24 Aug 2006 15:54:06 +0100, in rec.travel.europe, "Miss L. Toe"
arranged some electrons, so they looked
like this:


... ... Since the health costs of tobbaism is in excess of the
... ... tax revenues, reducing its consumption would be profitable
... ... to the government.
... ...
... ...
... ... You are fogetting the massive pension reduction benefits.
...
... You forget that the young ones die too; not only the old ones...
...
... So they never get to claim their pensions...
... Hence the saving

But they don't pay taxes either.


The young ones who die from smoking normally do.

"*~* Magda *~*" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 24 Aug 2006 17:36:07 +0100, in rec.travel.europe, "Miss L. Toe"
arranged some electrons, so they looked
like this:

... ... ... Since the health costs of tobbaism is in excess of
the
... ... ... tax revenues, reducing its consumption would be
profitable
... ... ... to the government.
... ... ...
... ... ...
... ... ... You are fogetting the massive pension reduction
benefits.
... ...
... ... You forget that the young ones die too; not only the old
ones...
... ...
... ... So they never get to claim their pensions...
... ... Hence the saving
...
... But they don't pay taxes either.
...
... The young ones who die from smoking normally do.

For how long?


At least long enough to pay back for their education.

go back to bed

"Earl Evleth" a écrit dans le message de news:
...
On 24/08/06 15:32, in article , "Mike
O'Sullivan" wrote:

Could that "unique relationship" have anything to do with the fact that
the French government have a monopoly on tobacco production, and of
course the healthy tax they raise on its' sale?


Monopoly in what sense? American cigarettes are
sold in France. They have a monopoly on distribution similar
to what exists with alcohol in some US states.

Since the health costs of tobbaism is in excess of the
tax revenues, reducing its consumption would be profitable
to the government.

talk about a useless OT thread
not LOL at all.

"*~* Magda *~*" a écrit dans le message de news:
...
On Thu, 24 Aug 2006 18:53:46 +0100, in rec.travel.europe, "Miss L. Toe"
arranged some electrons, so they looked
like this:

...
... At least long enough to pay back for their education.

Talk about a useless investment... LOL