The days of cigarette-friendly France are about to go up in smoke.

Prime minister Dominique de Villepin on 9 October 2006 announced a ban on smoking in public places like offices, schools and public buildings will start in February 2007, while restaurants, dance clubs and some types of bars can delay applying the order until 2008. Villepin said the state would provide for one-third of the costs of anti-smoking treatments, such as patches. (pi)