Gabrielle smokes extensively throughout the film. On several occasions she is asked not to, either because smoking is illegal in the specific locale, or because the people around her find it offensive. Nelly is portrayed smoking in several scenes, most notably in the scrapyard, where the mechanic warns her she may cause an explosion due to gasoline residue in the cars.

Alcohol is an integral part of French life, so it recurs as a background prop throughout the film. There is a night-club scene showing Gabrielle getting very drunk, with other drunken patrons. The wedding reception features copious quantities of alcohol, and several seriously inebriated characters.