PARIS, Sept 4, 2007 (AFP) - Three in four French people plan to eat out just as much after a nationwide ban on smoking in restaurants comes into force on January 1, with a fifth planning to indulge more often, a poll said Tuesday.

According to the national health education institute INPES, 72 percent of respondents -- smokers and non-smokers alike -- did not expect to change their dining habits, while 19 percent planned to frequent restaurants more often.

Some 73 percent said the ban would not affect their habits concerning cafes and bars, with 18 percent planning to go out drinking more, while for nightclubs the figures were 82 and 12 percent respectively.

A quarter of all non-smokers planned to spend more time in restaurants and cafes, and 15 percent said they would go out dancing more often.

Four in five supported the smoking ban in restaurants, compared to 71 percent for cafes and bars and 67 percent for nightclubs.

Part one of a French ban on smoking in public places came into force in February, covering workplaces, schools and hospitals and setting the clock ticking for cafes, bars, casinos and nightclubs which had an extra year to kick the habit.

The INPES poll was carried out by telephone among 1,104 French people aged  15 to 64.

AFP

Subject: French news