No smoking, french style

So today's the first day of the smoking ban in the UK, we've had a similar ban over here since the begining of the year and it doesn't seem to have made much difference. In part this is because eating /drinking outside is part of the culture; but the main reason is that "small bars and restaurants" (which seems to be pretty much all of them!) have a 12 month excemption. As, with typically french logic, have tobacconist shops ! !
One or two of the more upmarket retaurants locally have imposed the ban; it's a very french thing to eat, with familly or a group of friends, on saturday eve or sunday lunch and on these occaisions the menfolk leave the women and children "a table" and gather outside for a drag and a chat. When the next course arrives the waitresses shout through the door " come in table 4 your times up!"