'La bise' the traditional French greeting of cheek-to-cheek kisses to the cheeks could be banned amid fears it could spread swine flu.

A number of companies and schools are already said to have told people to refrain from unnecessary physical contact.

Some organisations have even gone as far as issuing suggestions for other ways of greeting colleagues, such as handshake or the even more preferred wave or salute.

While the ban is currently only suggested it is thought that it could become enforced later in the year if there is a winter H1N1 pandemic.

Some french commentators have reacted badly to talk of a ban, however many Brits would be likely to embrace it … the confusion over how many kisses to do always leaves us feeling less cultured than our neighbours.