France’s 15 million smokers are now banned from lighting up in workplaces, schools, airports, hospitals and other “closed and covered” public places. More than 175,000 agents are to enforce the ban, handing out fines of euro68 (US$88) for smokers and euro135 (US$174) for employers who look the other way. In a year, the ban will extend to cafes and restaurants.

The French government said it will help smokers quit by reimbursing up to euro50 (US$65) per person per year for stop-smoking aids. It will also allow companies to invest in strictly regulated special smoking rooms inside the workplace.

Norms are changing across Europe, with Italy, Spain, Belgium, Britain and Ireland already enacting broad smoking bans.

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