Aug. 23 (Bloomberg) -- The French government may ban smoking in public places starting Jan. 1, Health Minister Xavier Bertrand said today, drawing the ire of lobbies that say it's too early for such a measure.

In an interview with Le Figaro daily, Bertrand said he wanted to implement a decree banning smoking in restaurants and work spaces. It will not initially be applicable to nightclubs, casinos and bars that sell tobacco, Bertrand's office confirmed.

``There have been so many announcements and setbacks that I want to hear the ban decision from the prime minister himself,'' said Yves Bur, a member of Parliament who first proposed a smoking ban at companies in October 2005 and is a leading advocate of a broader prohibition of tobacco.

As many as 61,000 people die each year in France as a result of smoking and 5,000 from second-hand smoke, according to the minister. About 30 percent of the French population smokes, more than in any European countries except Greece, where it's 42 percent. A smoking ban in France would follow similar actions in Sweden, Italy, Ireland and elsewhere. The U.K. plans to ban tobacco consumption in all public spaces in the summer of 2007.

The push for a ban comes as the French government struggles to cap social costs, with the public health-care deficit at 6.5 billion euros ($8.3 billion) in 2005. Bertrand's comments came ahead of a parliamentary report to be published in October, which will recommend steps to ban smoking in public places.

``The government should wait for the lawmakers' report,'' Bur said. ``It will help it make better decisions. Now it's making an unrealistic announcement.''

Lobbies Opposed

The minister's comments prompted an angry response from lobbying groups opposed to the ban.

``This would be an authoritarian measure, given without notice, and is simply not feasible,'' said Andre Daguin, the president of the Hotels, Restaurants and Catering Union.

Claude Evin, who heads the parliamentary commission and is the lawmaker who introduced France's 1991 law banning tobacco- related ads, said in an interview that the government needs to prepare the public for the ban.

``Why did the government call for a parliamentary commission if they then decide to go ahead without waiting for our report?'' he said, adding that Bertrand's decision to ask for a ban on Jan. 1 was ``a mistake''.

The minister's office try to temper his comments, saying Bertrand hadn't meant to make decisions before the government.

``We are still missing some elements, including the report, to take a ban decision,'' Gwladys Huret, his spokeswoman said.

Popular Support

Bertrand's comments came as a study by the French-Spanish cigarettes and cigars maker Altadis SA, published in Figaro, showed that tobacco consumption in France rose for the first time since 2002. Cigarettes and other tobacco smoking grew 2.8 percent in the first five months of 2006 from a year before.

Bertrand told Figaro the ban would come in a decree or a government order to ensure it doesn't get delayed by political jostling ahead of the May 2007 presidential election.

A poll commissioned by the government in February defied ban opponents' claims and prompted the government to move ahead.

According to the Ifop poll, 78 percent of people surveyed favored a total smoking ban in public spaces, while 74 percent said they don't want to smell the smoke while eating in restaurants. Fifty-seven percent wanted a smoking ban in cafes.

To contact the reporter on this story: Helene Fouquet in Paris at hfouquet1@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: August 23, 2006 08:42 EDT