Really enjoyed my short time in Paris. I generally think that Europeans have gotten so many things right that we Americans are still struggling with. But… what is with all the smoking, still, in 2026? Someone should tell them it’s bad for you. 🚬

@manton must be Paris. I felt the same when I visited Rome, it was crazy. Weirdly here in Spain it feels like something from the past.

@manton Hehe, I think the same when I visit the U.S. It really varies from country to country. Here in Sweden, about 6% of people are smokers, compared to 11% in the U.S. We do love our snus, though. 😊

@sod Well, that’s interesting! Maybe it’s more noticeable to me because smoking is not allowed anywhere near restaurants here in Austin. In Paris, it’s hard to find a sidewalk cafe with someone not smoking.

@manton Gallic shrug

@manton @sven There's a lot of smokers in many countries. Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, and many others are just like you experienced in Paris. I also have a hard time understanding this.

@manton In the UK, one can smoke outside restaurants, bars, pubs, and so on, but not inside.

@manton In fairness, cigarette manufacturing is something else the Europeans have long cotton right. Their cigarettes are actually far less lethal and additive free compared to American ones.

@manton it’s bad in France but even worse in Spain

@manton There are still a lot of people smoking world wide, the French just can't be bothered to mandate where and when you can smoke (free will) like down a back alley.

@alexandra @numericcitizen @KimberlyHirsh @patrickrhone.bsky.social @Eyebeemania @vladcampos @robbyred.bsky.social @manton @sod @alexito4

Reminds me of an old Jack Handy line, “I would never suggest the kids should smoke, but if you already do, it’s pretty good, huh?”

@dfgomes 🧐

@manton

In other news .. France has its own colour on these two maps

🔗Smoking Rates By Country

🔗Wine Consumption Rates By Country

AND - on the smoking side .. we shouldn’t forget to include vaping … because when it comes to Vapes (like ‘arms’) - the US beats out the world - both in consumption and production - even with the massive massive health warnings.

Meanwhile - France beats out the US with coffee, though only by 25% (ish): 🔗Coffee Consumption Rates By Country

.. and yet for all of that

🔗 Life expectancy in France fully 3 years more

@bkryer When my parents discovered I was smoking as a teen, at one point my mother offered me a cigarette and said, “Don’t tell your Dad’, and my Dad offered me a cigarette a short while later, telling me not to tell my mother. This was fifty years ago.

@Eyebeemania “Brian, go to the Stop & Go and get a pack of Mores and a pack of Camels. Tell them it’s for your parents.” And I did, and it worked. That was in 1975 or so…