French cafe owner rebels against smoking ban 03/01/2008 00:00

Cafe owner put up protest art showing overflowing ashtrays and cigarette butts

     LYON, France, January 3, 2008 - A French cafe owner put up protest art
showing overflowing ashtrays and cigarette butts on Wednesday as he refused to apply a new smoking ban targeting restaurants and bars.
   Christophe Cedat, owner of the Cafe 203 in Lyon, said the photo and
poster-art exhibit in his smoky cafe would bring the debate surrounding the
new ban into the "artistic domain" which he described as "neutral ground."
   The trendy cafe's entrance displayed a banner that carried the warning:
"Cultural and social experimental zone: you are exposing yourself to the
threat of second-hand smoke."
   A smoking ban went into force on Tuesday in cafes, restaurants and
nightclubs, 11 months after the measure hit workplaces and other public areas.
   After a one-day reprieve to smokers over the New Year festivities, police
and public health officials began enforcing the ban on Wednesday.
   Smokers who light up in cafes face fines of between 68 euros (100 dollars)
to 450 euros while business owners can incur penalties of up to 750 euros for
violations.
   Cedrat said he would allow smokers to light up in his cafe between noon and
2 pm and plans to cover the cost of fines by selling small decorated ashtrays.
AFP