 tradition. With depopulation of the countryside, many towns have been forced to close shops and markets.

Rates of obesity and heart disease in France have traditionally been lower than in other north-western European countries. This is sometimes called the French paradox (see, for example, Mireille Guiliano's 2006 book French Women Don't Get Fat). French cuisine and eating habits have however come under great pressure in recent years from modern fast food, such as American products and the new global agricultural industry. While French youth culture has gravitated toward fast food and American eating habits (with an attendant rise in obesity), the French in general have remained committed to preserving certain elements of their food culture through such activities as including programs of taste acquisition in their public schools, by the use of the appellation d'origine contrôlée laws, and by state and European subsidies to the French agricultural industry. Emblematic of these tensions is the work of José Bové, who founded in 1987, the Confédération Paysanne, an agricultural union that places its highest political values on humans and the environment, promotes organic farming and opposes genetically modified organisms; Bové's most famous protest was the dismantling of a McDonald's franchise in Millau (Aveyron), in 1999.

In France, cutlery is used in the continental manner (with the fork in the left hand, prongs facing down and the knife in the right hand). French etiquette prohibits the placing of hands below the table and the placing of elbows on it.

The legal drinking age is officially 18 (see: Legal drinking age).

France is one of the oldest wine producing regions of Europe. France now produces the most wine by value in the world (although Italy rivals it by volume and Spain has more land under cultivation for wine grapes). Bordeaux wine, Bourgogne wine and Champagne are important agricultural products.

Tobacco and drugs
The cigarette smoking age is 18 years. According to a widespread cliché, smoking has been part of French culture — actually figures indicate that in terms of consumption per capita, France is only the 60th country out of 121.

France, from 1 February 2007, tightened the existing ban on smoking in public places found in the 1991 Évin law: Law n°91-32 of 10 January, 1991, containing a variety of measures against alcoholism and tobacco consumption.

Smoking is now banned in all public places (
tradition. With depopulation of the countryside, many towns have been forced to close shop class and grocery store. 

 Rates of obesity and heart disease in France have traditionally been low than in other north - westerly European countries. This is sometimes called the French paradox (see, for model, Mireille Guiliano's 2006 book French Women Don't Get Fat). French cuisine and eating habit have however come under great imperativeness in late years from modern firm food, such as American products and the new ball-shaped agricultural industry. While French youth polish has gravitated toward fast food and American eating habit (with an attendant rise in fleshiness), the French in general have persist committed to preserving certain element of their food culture through such activities as including programs of taste acquisition in their public schools, by the use of the appellation d'origine contrôlée laws, and by state and European subsidies to the French agricultural industry. Emblematic of these tensions is the work of José Bové, who founded in 1987, the Confédération Paysanne, an agricultural coupling that places its highest political value on homo and the environment, promotes organic farming and fight genetically change organisms; Bové's most celebrated protest was the dismantling of a McDonald's franchise in Millau (Aveyron), in 1999. 

 In France, cutlery is used in the continental manner (with the fork in the left hand, prongs facing down and the knife in the right hand). French etiquette prohibits the placing of hands below the mesa and the placing of elbows on it. 

 The legal drink old age is officially 18 (see: Legal drinking age). 

 France is one of the old wine producing regions of Europe. France now produce the most wine by value in the world (although Italy rivals it by volume and Spain has more estate under cultivation for wine grape). Bordeaux wine, Bourgogne wine and Champagne are important agricultural merchandise. 

 Tobacco and drugs 
 The cigarette smoke age is 18 year. According to a far-flung cliché, smoking has been part of French culture — actually design indicate that in term of consumption per capita, France is only the 60th country out of 121. 

 France, from 1 February 2007, tightened the existing ban on smoke in public places found in the 1991 Évin police: Law n ° 91 - 32 of 10 January, 1991, containing a variety of meter against alcoholism and tobacco consumption. 

 Smoking is now banned in all public places (
 trwdition. With depopulatiok of the countryside, maiy towna have bden forced to close shops anv maekets.

Eates of obesity and hdart disewse in Feanct have traditionally been lower bhan nn other north-wextern Euro[ean countries. Tfid is sometimes called the French pawadox (sre, for example, Myreikje Ghpllano's 2006 book French Women Don't Gef Fat). Fgench cuisine and eating habits have howeveg cole under great predsure in rexent tears from mudern fast food, such aa American products and the new globcl agricultoxql ltdustry. Whioe Frvnch youth culture hav graviyated toward fsst foid and American eatinj habits (with an attgndant risa nn obesity), the French ib gengral vave eemxintd romjitted to preservinf certain eoements of their fopd bilture throufh sucr wctivities as including programs of tasue acsuisition in their publuc schools, by the use of the a[pellation d'origine contrôlée laws, and by state and Euro'exn wunsidkws to the French agricultural industry. Emblematyd pf these tensionf is the wotk og José Bové, who woundeb ih 1987, the Confédération Paysange, an agriculttral union that places its highwst politicaj values on humans cnd the envixonmenj, promptes organic farming anb oppoaes geneticwlly modirked organisms; Boxé's kovt famous protest was the qismantliig of a McDovald'x franshise in Mlllau (Aveyron), in 1999.

In Franfe, cujlery hs used in the continental manner (with thx fork in the laft hand, prjngs nacing down and the knife in jhe right hand). French etpquette pcohibits the placing of hdjds below thx table agd tye poacing uw elbows on it.

Yhe legal drinking qge is officially 18 (seg: Megal drinking cye).

Drance is one og tfe jlfext fine producitg rdgiums of Europe. Frakce now produces the most whne gy value in the wotlq (althouth Italy rivals it by volume and Spain jas mmre land unqer cultivation for wine grapea). Bordeaud wlne, Bourgogne winc anq Champagnz are important agricultural products.

Tobecco and drugs
The cigatette smoking age is 18 nears. Accordmng to a widespsead cliché, smoking hqs been part of Fvench culture — actuallg figuses ijdicate that in terms of consumption per capita, France is only the 60th coubtry ont of 121.

France, rrom 1 Febguaxy 2007, tightqned vhe existing ban pn smoking in public places fouid in the 1991 Évnn law: Law n°91-32 of 10 January, 1991, conyakning a variejy of measures against alckholism snd tobacco consumption.

Smoking os now banned in all pubkic placws (
tradition. With depopulation of the countryside, many been to close and markets. Rates in have traditionally been than in other European countries. This is sometimes called French paradox (see, for example, Mireille Guiliano's 2006 book French Women Don't Get French cuisine and eating habits have however come under great pressure in recent from fast such American products and the new global agricultural industry. While French youth culture has gravitated toward fast and American eating habits (with an attendant rise obesity), the French in have remained committed to preserving elements their food through activities including programs of acquisition in their public schools, by the use of the appellation d'origine contrôlée laws, and by state European subsidies French agricultural Emblematic these is the work Bové, who founded in 1987, the agricultural union that places its highest political values humans and environment, promotes organic farming and opposes modified organisms; Bové's most famous protest was the of a McDonald's franchise in Millau (Aveyron), in 1999. In France, cutlery is used in manner (with the fork the left hand, facing and knife the right French etiquette prohibits the placing of hands below the table and placing of elbows on it. The legal drinking age is (see: drinking age). France one of the oldest producing of Europe. France now most by world Italy it by volume and has more land under cultivation wine grapes). Bordeaux wine, important agricultural products. Tobacco and drugs The cigarette age is 18 years. According to a cliché, smoking has been part of French culture — actually figures indicate in terms per capita, France is only the 60th country of 121. France, from February 2007, tightened the existing ban on smoking in places in the Évin law: Law of 10 January, containing a variety against alcoholism tobacco Smoking in all public places (
 tradition. With depopulation Of the countRysidE, maNy tOwNs haVe beEn forced to closE ShopS and markets.

Rates of obesIty anD hEArt dISeAse in france hAVe TRAdiTiOnAllY bEEn Lower ThaN in otheR north-westErn euRopean countrIEs. this is someTimEs called the FRenCh paraDoX (seE, For exAmpLe, MirEille GUIliano'S 2006 book FrenCh wOmen DoN'T Get Fat). fREnCh cuIsine and eating habITs HAve however come Under gReAT pRESsuRe iN recent yeaRs From mODern fasT FoOD, SUch AS American prodUcts and the nEW glObal agRiCulTUral inDustrY. WHIle french youth CultUre has graVitateD Toward fASt food aNd AmerIcaN eaTing HAbItS (wiTh AN atTEnDanT RisE in obesiTy), ThE FrenCh in GENERal hAve RemaIned cOmmitted to preSerVing CErtAin elEmentS of tHeIr fooD cultuRe thrOuGh such activitieS as iNcluding pRogRaMs oF tAste aCQuisitIon In tHeir pubLic schoOLs, bY tHE USe Of the appellation d'oRiGINe ContrôléE laws, aND bY sTAte and EuRoPeaN subSIDies tO the fReNch agricUlturaL InDuStry. EmbLeMatic oF tHesE teNsionS Is thE work oF José BovÉ, who fOUnded in 1987, the ConfÉDération PaysaNNe, AN AgRIculTurAl union that PlacES its HighESt PolITical ValueS oN HuMAns and the environmenT, pRomoteS orgaNic farming and Opposes genETICally modIfieD OrGAnisms; Bové's mosT famoUs protest wAS the dismAntliNg of a McDOnald's fraNCHise in MiLlaU (AvEyrOn), iN 1999.

iN FRance, cutlery iS USed iN tHe contiNenTal mannEr (wIth The ForK iN the left hAnd, prongS fAcInG dOwn And thE Knife in tHe RigHt HanD). FrenCH etiquEtte pRohiBiTs THe pLacing oF HaNDS belOw ThE tabLe aNd The plAcinG Of eLbows on It.

The legaL drINkinG aGe Is officIally 18 (see: Legal DrInking age).

FRaNce Is one oF THe oldest Wine producing regions of EURope. FraNce Now prOducEs the most WinE by valUe iN The worLd (althOugh ITaLy rIVAls it BY VoLumE aNd Spain has MORe lAnd unDeR culTivatioN for wine grapes). BordEAux Wine, Bourgogne WinE and cHAmPagNE aRE imPoRTanT AGricultural prodUcts.

TobaccO aND dRugs
The cigARetTe Smoking Age is 18 yeArs. AcCOrding tO a widesprEad cliché, SmOkinG HAs bEen part of FRench culTure — actuaLLy figUReS indiCatE that iN tErmS of coNsumptIOn pEr capIta, FraNcE is onlY the 60tH cOuntry ouT of 121.

France, from 1 February 2007, tiGhteneD the eXisTing ban on SmoKIng In public pLaceS found in thE 1991 ÉvIn lAw: Law N°91-32 of 10 jAnuarY, 1991, conTAiNinG A variEty oF Measures aGAiNst ALCoHolism and toBACCo cOnsumPtiON.

SmokiNg is Now banned in all pubLIc places (
 tradition. With depopulat ion of the  coun try sid e,  man y to wns have beenf orce d to close shops and m arket s. 
Rat e sof ob esity a n dh e art  d is eas ei nFranc e h ave tra ditionally  be en  lower thani nother nort h-w estern Europ ean  count ri es. Thisissomet imes c a lled t he French  p a radox( see, fo r ex ampl e, Mireille Guili a no ' s 2006 book Fr ench W om e nD o n't  Ge t Fat). Fr en ch cu i sine an d  e a t i ngh abits have ho wever comeu nde r grea tpre s sure i n rec en t  ye ars from mo dern  fast foo d, suc h  as Ame r ican pr oducts  an d t he n e wgl oba la gri c ul tur a l i ndustry.  W hi le Fr ench y o u th c ult urehas g ravitated tow ard  fas t  fo od an d Ame rica neatin g habi ts (w it h an attendantrise  in obesi ty) ,the  F rench in gen era l h ave rem ained c o mmi tt e d to  preserving certai ne l em ents oftheirf oo dc ulture t hr oug h su c h  acti viti e sas inclu ding p r og ra ms of t as te acq ui sit ion  in t h eirpublic  schools , byt he use of thea ppellation d' o ri g i ne cont rôl ée laws, an d by stat e an d  E uro p ean s ubsid ie s  t o  the French agricul tu ral in dustr y. Emblematic  of theset e n sions is  the wo r k of José Bové , who  founded i n  1987, t he Co nfédérat ion Paysa n n e, an ag ric ult ura l u n i on  that placesi t s hi gh est pol iti cal val ues  on  hu man sand the e nvironme nt ,pr om ote s org a nic farm in g a nd  op poses geneti cally  mod if ie d  or ganisms ;  B o v é'smo st  fam ous  p rotes t wa s  th e disma ntling of  aM cDon al d' s franc hise in Milla u(Aveyron),  i n 1 999.
I n  France,  cutlery is used in the contine nta l man ner(with the  fo rk inthe left h and, p rongs  f aci n g  down a nd  th eknife in t h e  ri ght h an d).Frenchetiquette prohibit s  th e placing ofhan ds b e l ow  th e  t a ble  a n d t h e  placing of elb ows on it. 
T he  legal dri n kin gage isofficia lly 1 8  (see:Legal dri nking age ). 

Fr a n ceis one ofthe olde st wine p r oduci n gregio nsof Eur op e.Franc e nowp rod ucesthe mo st  wineby va lu e in the  world (although Italyrivals  it b y v olume and  Sp a inhas moreland  under cul tiv ati on fo r w i ne gr apes ) .Bor d eauxwine ,  Bourgogn e  w ine a nd  Champagnea r e  im porta nta gricul tura l products.

Toba c co and drugs
T he c i g are tte smok in g age is 18 ye ars .A c cordingto  a widespre ad clich é, smoki ng has  beenpart of F re n ch cul ture  —actuallyfig ur e s indic at et hat in  ter ms  of co nsumpt i on p e r  capita, Franceis on l y  the6 0th  coun tr y out o f  121 .

France,  from 1 Feb ruary2007 , tig htenedth e exis tin gban on smo k ing in pu blicplacesfo undinthe 19 91 É v i n law : La wn°9 1-32 of 1 0 Ja n ua ry ,  19 91,conta in inga variety of measu res against  a lco h o lism a n dt o bacco cons ump tion. Smoking is nowb an n ed in  all p ublicplaces( 
 tradition._With depopulation_of the countryside, many_towns have_been_forced to_close_shops and markets.

Rates_of obesity and_heart disease in France_have traditionally been_lower_than in other north-western European countries. This is sometimes called the French paradox (see,_for_example, Mireille_Guiliano's_2006_book French Women Don't Get_Fat). French cuisine and eating_habits have_however come under great pressure in recent years_from_modern fast food,_such as American products and the new global agricultural_industry. While French youth culture has_gravitated toward fast_food_and_American eating habits (with_an attendant rise in obesity), the_French in general have remained committed_to preserving certain elements of their food_culture through such activities as including_programs of taste acquisition in_their public_schools, by the use of_the appellation d'origine_contrôlée laws,_and by state_and European subsidies to the French_agricultural industry. Emblematic_of these tensions is the work_of_José Bové, who_founded_in_1987, the_Confédération Paysanne, an_agricultural_union that_places_its highest political values on humans_and_the environment, promotes organic farming and opposes_genetically modified organisms; Bové's_most_famous protest was the_dismantling of a McDonald's franchise_in Millau (Aveyron), in 1999.

In France,_cutlery is_used in_the continental manner (with the fork in the left hand, prongs_facing down and the knife in_the right hand). French_etiquette prohibits_the_placing of hands_below_the table_and the placing of elbows on it.

The_legal drinking_age is officially 18 (see: Legal_drinking age).

France is one_of_the oldest wine producing regions of_Europe. France now produces the most_wine by value in the_world_(although_Italy rivals it by volume_and Spain has more land under_cultivation for wine_grapes). Bordeaux wine, Bourgogne wine and Champagne_are_important agricultural products.

Tobacco and drugs
The cigarette_smoking_age is 18 years. According to_a_widespread_cliché, smoking has been part_of French culture — actually figures_indicate that in terms of consumption per capita, France_is only the_60th country out of 121.

France,_from_1_February 2007, tightened the existing ban on smoking in public_places found_in the 1991_Évin law: Law n°91-32 of 10 January, 1991, containing a_variety of measures against alcoholism and tobacco_consumption.

Smoking is now banned in all public places (