Smoking was subsequently prohibited across the country from February 1, 2007. People found lighting up in airports, railway stations, hospitals, schools, shops and offices were fined up to 68 euros while companies found to flout the norm were charged 135 euros per violation.

Under the French law, employees at private firms can smoke only if sealed smoking rooms have been set up for them. Though provisions for setting up separate smoking rooms ha been in place, it was hardly taken seriously until the law came into force.

The new rule stated that the smoking room may occupy at most 20 per cent of the total floor space of the establishment and their size may not be more than 35 m. They need to be equipped with separate ventilation, which replaces the full volume of air ten times per hour and cleaning and maintenance personnel may enter the room only one hour after it was last used for smoking.

Image: A customer shows the 68-euro fine he was given by policemen as he was smoking at the Cafe 203 in Lyon, France.

Photograph: Jeff Pachoud/AFP/Getty Images

Also read: Stop smoking, NOW!

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