Next to New York or London, Paris isn't a particularly noisy city, and nightlife rowdiness is relatively rare in a culture where most drink and party moderately. But since the 2008 smoking ban took effect in France and smokers were pushed to congregate on sidewalks outside bars and clubs, noise complaints have skyrocketed, prompting the local police to issue fines more stringently and force nightlife spots to close earlier. Dispirited DJs and club owners are reportedly fleeing Paris in droves for more noise-tolerant places like Berlin, claiming that the city of lights is fast becoming the city of sleep.
Concerned that Paris is en route to becoming the European capital of boredom, as daily paper Le Monde opined earlier this year, a group of music promoters is gearing up to submit a petition to the Paris municipal government to plea for more relaxed regulations. The movement, dubbed "When the night dies in silence", is hoping to lure back musical talent and nightlife-goers to a city that once held a reputation for valuing enjoyment over rules, but seems to be heading in the opposite direction.
As someone who lives in one of Paris' most-frequented nightlife districts, I can understand feeling weary with the street noise factor, especially on the weekend. But my neighborhood, Oberkampf, would also lose much of its charm were the lively nightlife scene to fade. Also, earplugs can be amazingly effective, especially against chatter.
Weigh In:
Ah, the law of unintended consequences! First they convinced auto makers they should remove the ashtrays and then they scream about litter, then they push smokers outside and complain about noise. The tax burden on smokers is raised sky high and states and countries are going broke. Maybe smokers should be much less demonized and more more catered to!
Get rid of the smoking ban. Problem solved!
We vacationed in Paris in early 2004 before the smoking ban and it was a nice place to visit. Many restaurants had some smoking restrictions so it was not a smoke fest 24/7, but it was nice to socialize in the many bars that allowed smoking freely. Even some of those didn’t, without the current restrictive law so there was ample choice for those in our party.
I am not so apt to plan a trip again to Paris unless some of the smoking restrictions are lifted.
I see Berlin is not under this draconian smoking rule and I really can’t blame the DJs and club owners for relocating to preserve their ability to make a living.
Naturally, the three people who commented so far are smokers. In any case, I live in the SOMA neighborhood in San Francisco. In the 1990’s, I had to press charges against two nightclubs because of their noise. In the years after that, others in the neighborhood did the same, and won. Since then, nightclubs have continued to exist and prosper. What I fear is that the young French generation is becoming as narcissistic and self-centered as they are in the US. All day and night, young people turn up their music in their cars to annoying levels. Their lack of manners is extraordinary. San Francisco has lost its civility. It’s a shame, and I hope this never happens in Paris.
I’ve been coming to Paris often for more than 49 years, and right now the noise in the night near any bar or club is terrible, because of the drunk smokers outside talking very loudly. Without double-glazed windows plus good earplugs, sleeping is impossible. And yes, if you look out the window at 3 AM all those standing in the street outside bars have cigarettes in hand, and really any time after midnight most of them are drunk and loud. I am not a smoker and love it that I can eat in a restaurant here now without breathing clouds of stinking smoke, but maybe bars should be exempt. The noise is unacceptable.