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| Ireland Pubs To go "Smoke Free" on March 29th | ||
| 2004-02-18 | ||
| Francie O’Connor has been coming into smoke-filled Dublin pubs as long as he can remember, once at his father’s side, now at his son’s. For him, a pint and a cigarette go hand in hand. No longer. Inspired by similar restrictions in California and New York City, Ireland will become the first country in Europe to crack down on public smoking, the government announced Wednesday. As of March 29, smoking will be forbidden in all enclosed workplaces -- including the country’s 10,000 pubs. Thirty percent of Irish adults smoke, but opinion polls indicate the plan has widespread support. To hard-core smokers and traditionalists like O’Connor, however, it’s something close to sacrilege. "A man comes to a pub for a bit of happiness in his life. It can be more of a home than your own home," the 59-year-old handyman said between drags on his Marlboro Light, his son Daithi adopting an identical pose on the bench beside him. "If the goal is to live longer and less happily, well, we’re on the right road." Pub owners have threatened to challenge the government in court to delay or water down the ban. They argue that it will drive away up to half of their customers -- not just the smokers, but the smokers’ friends. But Health Minister Micheal Martin, a nonsmoker who rarely ventures into a pub, has dismissed proposals to create separate smoking sections with modernized ventilation systems. He says such measures don’t lessen the damage done to the bar staff obliged to work among smokers. He stressed Wednesday that nothing could protect people from secondhand smoke besides an outright ban. He dismissed the pub owners’ predictions and noted he has the support of the unions representing bar staff. "I am confident that people will adjust, just as they did when cinemas, theaters, hairdressing salons, airplanes and numerous other settings went smoke-free," he said.
"It’ll never happen," said Gina Lawlor, 42, a bank teller on a break. "It’s bad enough I can’t have a smoke at work,"
Im no big fan of smoking, but if you cant smoke in a pub in ireland, its surely a sign of the coming of the end of the world. | ||
| Posted by:Frank Martin |
| #11 You missed the entire point, Lone Ranger. This phenomenon of "hating" smoke the way you and DPA do is something that's arisen in the last 20 years from PC programming. You didn't notice any of the real issues at stake. The government taking away this right from smokers' should make you at least sad, if not infuriated. Eaters, drinkers, cell phone users, fat people--where will government interference end "for the good of the whole?" It's not government's job--and while you're so excited about others' rights being abridged (not the least of which is the virtual "robbery" of private property by government), you should worry more and act self-righteous a little less. Why bring freedom to Iraq and Aghanistan only to have it start to disappear in this country? Notice Arnold is trying to make a "smokers' area" at the CA capital. Who are the imams here? (Islam punishes smoking, too) |
| Posted by: Jennie Taliaferro 2004-2-19 8:21:20 AM |
| #10 Hey DPA - I'm with you. For 40+ years,I've had to put up with smokers - it was legal, so that was my tough luck. If I didn't like the smoke, then I could take my ass somewhere else. And I have left many a smoky place just because I couldn't take the stench any more. But - it was legal. So I had to suchk it up - and the smokers just laughed. Well, now the shoe is moving to the other foot. About 80% of smokers seem to take the same approach I did - hey, we'll abide by the law - even if it incoveniences us. But 20% are the whining, sniveling types whose life theory is "hurray for me, and to hell with eveybody else" - and you can always tell the real imams of smoking when the start talking about "nti-smoking nazis". Hey - in a generally democratic nation of laws, you go by the law - or - take a hike. I took my hike for 40 years. Your turn now, whiny boys. |
| Posted by: Lone Ranger 2004-2-18 9:24:50 PM |
| #9 DPA, I've always tried to be a considerate smoker. Fat lot of good it's done me. You may hate it, but it's still legal (what time is it?) and the Constitution gives us the right to put whatever we want into our bodies (including illicit drugs, actually). "Not liking the smell" is quite a different matter than that of Second Hand Smoke "killing" you, a conclusion which someone above points out is totally based on junk science. Tobacco made this country great. America was practically founded on tobacco. And as you can see, once the Nanny Police State starts in on the smokers, they'll pick off all our freedoms one by one. Hide and watch! Businesses that are privately owned should be free to regulate whether their patrons or employees do or don't smoke on the premises and Government should *butt* the hell out! Smoking bans are a property grab and an abrogation of personal freedom. Still damn proud to be American? |
| Posted by: Jennie Taliaferro 2004-2-18 7:10:37 PM |
| #8 I agree with you DPA it's rude as hell .... except I love the smell... I've never quite social worker quit. I like to watch folks smoke. I wish I could be one again. Say Layvee. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-2-18 6:37:55 PM |
| #7 I'm about the get the holy hell flamed outta me on this but I gotta say... I can't stand smoking in doors and I think it's rude as hell. Forget the health issues, it just smells bad and it smells up your clothes (and you) and it bothers my throat. To me I see no difference between someone smoking in doors and someone screaming in my ear constantly... claiming that they have the right to free speech. Not caring if your smoke is bothering those around you is just plain rude and I'm convinced those that do it don't even realize it because it's become so socially accepted. Now go ahead and tear me a new one ;) |
| Posted by: Damn_Proud_American 2004-2-18 6:09:08 PM |
| #6 Yes more regulations are needed. I think beer and alcohol will be next. After all look at all those deaths from drinking. Cut me a f%@#$%$ break. Yes please legislate something else. Just what is needed. In any case it will be interesting to see how this goes in Eire. |
| Posted by: dataman1 2004-2-18 6:04:22 PM |
| #5 Health Nazis and nanny states. The reason the ban passed here in NYC is that Bloomberg thinks smoking is bad. Before the ban, he got the tax on cigs upped by more than a buck-fitty. On average, a pack of smokes in NYC will run you $7.50. As a result, taxm revenue is LOST because of bootlegging and Internet sales from Indian reservations. All this despite the FACT that the studies claiming secondhand smoke is bad are all deeply flawed and inconclusive. There is no proof it's bad. Nonsmokers, rejoice. But if you're fat, be careful. They'll be coming for you next. After all, it's unhealthy. |
| Posted by: growler 2004-2-18 4:30:43 PM |
| #4 Everyone knows that the drink bone is connected to the smoke bone and you know how the Irish are about drinking! In fact, I'm almost sure their parliament was loaded when they thought this ban was a good idea. Don't be so stupidly PC, Eire. Erin Go Brae! |
| Posted by: Jennie Taliaferro 2004-2-18 4:26:56 PM |
| #3 The AMA will soon say if you're in the same room with someone who even thinks about lighting up a smoke, you're as good as dead. DEAD! DEAD! DEAD! |
| Posted by: tu3031 2004-2-18 4:20:37 PM |
| #2 I think I'll put my coat on and step outside to smoke my pipe now... |
| Posted by: Fred 2004-2-18 4:08:31 PM |
| #1 So the old coot's die of loneliness, old age and exposure... so what. Smoking is B. A. D. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-2-18 4:04:13 PM |