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.

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Are Anti-Noise Regulations Turning Paris Into the City of Sleep? originally appeared on About.com Paris Travel on Sunday, January 10th, 2010 at 21:26:34.

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