But that changes on Tuesday when strict new bans take effect in two of Western Europe's final bastions for smokers, Germany and France.

Even though smoking bans led to increased pub and restaurant business in other countries, the argument seemed to fall on deaf ears in Germany and France, where any infringement of the right to smoke was sometimes viewed as an attack on freedom.

Exemption
From January 1 smoking will be banned in pubs and restaurants in 11 of Germany’s 16 states -- exemptions given only to those with separate closed-off rooms. In France, smoking in shops, offices and other public places has been banned, but a special exemption for bars and cafes has been in place until January 1. With some 15 million smokers in France, there has been plenty of outrage at the new law that foresees fines of 68 euros on smokers and up to 750 euros for cafe managers.