New French bill passed to allow super-models to smoke in public

by Anna Brones on

We all know Carla Bruni has been causing a nice stir in France. The ex-supermodel and singer recently married French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and things in the Palais de l’Elysée haven’t been the same since.

Taking advantage of her role as First Lady, Bruni-Sarkozy recently lobbied for legislation regarding French super-models smoking in public. Since January 2008 smoking in public has been banned in France, completely changing the local bistro culture. What stereoptypical French image doesn’t contain a cigarette?

Unfortunately, the ban has had a negative effect on some of France’s most beloved objects; super-models. Smoking suppresses hunger, something French super-models rely upon to keep their svelte figures. Bruni-Sarkozy — who easily associates with her supermodel comrades — took on the task of lobbying the French government to alter the ban to allow for super-models to smoke in public.

“This has nothing to do with general public health; these super-models are France’s national symbol and we can’t have them gaining weight just because they have an extra urge for a croissant. Allowing super-models to smoke is a way of preserving France’s sexy image,” said Bruni-Sarkozy in an official statement. Tu as tout à fait raison Carla!

Smoking ban in Germany spurns crafty workarounds

by Grant Martin on

Here in the United States we’ve had mixed results to smoking bans. In New York and Los Angeles, people are forced to smoke outside of bars and restaurants, although the smokers I’ve talked to tolerate it moderately well. Here in Michigan, the bar and restaurant lobby refuses to let go of the notion that people can still enjoy dinner and drinks without a cigarette — so the various legislation in the works has been all but squashed. Eventually, I imagine they’ll have to go outside and smoke too, even if it isn’t this year.

If the Michigan lobbyists were smart though, they would let the bill pass and start a hole-in-the-wall building company. Like this poor guy in Germany, smokers in US could stick their arms and heads through “smoking points” in the walls, where all of their toxic breath could be exhaled into the atmosphere.

Or they could just be ridiculed by amateur bloggers here on Gadling.

Cigarette vending machines in Japan to require ID

by Catherine Bodry on

“Can I see your ID?” This question will now, in theory, be asked to anyone who attempts to buy cigarettes from vending machines in Japan. Reuters reports that “by next July, all of Japan’s 570,000 cigarette vending machines will require a smart card called ‘taspo’– a blend of the words tobacco, access and passport — issued only to people who are at least 20, the legal smoking age.”

The taspo card will also function as a money card for the machine, allowing users to pay for cigarettes as they’re being identified. The cards will be offered free of charge, and the smoker’s picture will appear on the card (though the machines have no way to read the images).

The machines were funded in large part by the Tobacco Institute, whose members include Japan’s three tobacco companies. The general manager at the Institute, Kazuyuki Kobayashi, says the Institute hopes the new system will prevent minors from smoking.

Smoking Bans on Cruise Ships Cost Millions in Cancellations

by Catherine Bodry on

Regent Seven Seas intends to tighten its smoking rules this December. Although not even in place yet, the plan to ban smoking in cabins and on balconies has already cost the company $3 million in cancellations. And Regent isn’t the only cruise line pouring water on smokers’ fires; Oceania Cruises implemented a zero-tolerance policy the same day a smoldering cigarette killed one person and ruined 79 cabins aboard the Star Princess last year.

Most of the opposition comes from Europeans, who are less accustomed to smoking limitations than Americans. However, many non-smokers are fired up as well because they believe the cruise line’s policies aren’t strict enough.

On Regent’s ships, cruisers can still light up where they’re likely to spend money — in the casino and in designated sections of bars.

[via USA Today]

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Fly SMINTair: Smokers International Airline

by Justin Glow on

Last year we reported on a new airline trying to take to the skies called SMINTair. Everyone knows that for an airline to succeed nowadays they need to have some sort of angle: budget, luxury, high-tech, or in the case of SMINTair: cigarette smoke.

Aside from offering to “treat its passengers like the guest of an international Grand Hotel,” SMINTair will allow all paying customers to suck on a smooth, refreshing boomstick while en route to their destination. “Can you imagine the air in that plane after 12 hours? And your bloodshot eyes and stinky clothes?” Neil wrote in our earlier coverage. Turns out SMINTair has already thought of this.

“Non-smokers will find the cabin air more refreshing than on any other flight with any other airline, as SMINTAIR adds fresh outside air to the conditioning system!” their website reads. Not all is peachy, however. “This is more expensive, as it burns more fuel, but it is seen as an additional service to our guests.”

Now they’ve got the anti-smoking advocates and the environmentalists on their back. Not a good move. But according to Globorati, the airline “has now scored daily slots at Dusseldorf airport,” which means, I guess, that they’re at least one step closer to actually flying.