REPORT – The day after the entry into force of the measure, long postponed, Parisians are divided.
“A coffee on the terrace? With this weather?“. It is true that the question “Qhat do you think of the ban on heated terraces?could make you smile this morning. While light snow showers fall on Paris and the thermometer is close to 2 degrees – against almost 21° last week – the outdoor tables are not really successful.
Read alsoDoes the ban on heated terraces put restaurants at risk?
Since Thursday March 31, the ban on heated terraces, long postponed in order to spare a profession heavily impacted by the health crisis, has come into force. The decree of March 30, 2022 implements the Law of August 22, 2021, which aims to reduce French greenhouse gas emissions. “Customers had become accustomed to coming for a drink on a heated terrace” regrets a waiter of a bar & restaurant in the 11th arrondissement of the capital. “Afterwards, if it is mandatory, we will adapt and we will offer alternatives, such as blankets or promotions on hot drinks.he continues.
Read alsoLong postponed, the ban on heated terraces comes into force this Thursday
On the customer side, the question divides. “Personally, I am totally in favor of this measure.says Tom, a 22-year-old student. “We can’t go on with such ecological nonsense just because we like to have our coffee or beer hot. The planet is not at the mercy of our comfort“. A point of view which is not shared by Camille, 28 years old. “I am a smoker so I always go to the terrace. In winter, I don’t know if I will go back there as often as now“.
According to a survey carried out in December 2019 by the company Yougov, 67% of French people regularly frequent heated terraces in winter. More precisely, this figure would rise to 82% for smokers. This same survey also indicates that if 57% of them consider that heated terraces are polluting, 34% think that banning them is a good thing (39% undecided and 27% against). 56% of smokers are opposed to this measure.
A decree not yet respected by all
Some restaurateurs are also particularly upset against this measure. Fabrice*, owner of a Parisian brasserie near Opéra, does not hide his annoyance. “Frankly, it’s starting to do a lot. We had two years of crisis with the Covid, the health pass, then the vaccine and now the ban on heating? Already the customers have taken a long time to come back, we are going to lose them definitivelyhe laments. “The terraces represent a significant part of my turnover in winter. Of course when it’s cold, people go eat inside, but when it comes to drinks with friends, aperitifs, it’s going to be more complicated“.
Read alsoDo you approve of the ban on heated terraces?
Although all French restaurateurs or café owners are concerned by this measure, the implementing decree clearly specifies that this prohibition concerns “the use on public property of heating or air conditioning systems that consume energy and operate outdoors “. The question of “public domain“, such as sidewalks or squares, therefore implies that establishments with outdoor spaces falling under the “private domain», like the inner courtyards, will always be able to use the heating system they want. Furthermore, according to the decree, the terraces covered and closed on their side faces by solid walls connected by an airtight joint to the upper wall may be exempted from this prohibition.
Read alsoBarbara Pompili confirms the ban on heated terraces after winter 2020-2021
This slightblurry» around the characteristics of their own terraces means that some owners of bars, cafes or restaurants have left their heaters on today despite the formal entry into force of this measure. A bar owner located in the east of the capital – who preferred to remain anonymous – admits: “I left my terraces heated today. Have you seen this time? I’m not going to leave my clients in such a cold as I make the bulk of my turnover on the weekends and over the weekend. We’ll see if there are controls but I admit that today I don’t care too much“. And for the environmental impact of these heated terraces? “Fshould especially wonder about who really pollutes the most on earthhe declares.
The refractory expose themselves to a fine of 1500 € and 3000 € in the event of recidivism, but this system will not be implemented until June 30th. Enough to give restaurateurs time to find new alternatives?
*This name has been changed.