But on January 2, the government finally pushed through the EU’s most stringent anti-smoking legislation, ignoring a common sense solution. Aside from the economic impact on bars, and treating us like children, there will be other negative effects. People living in the centre of cities, and particularly those living above bars, will find that when the warm weather comes there will be a lot more noise in the street below them as people gather for a smoke outside bars, and allow their deadly cancerous smoke to drift up to their balconies. Imagine yourself, a non-smoker, sitting next to a terrace table on a hot afternoon or evening, with not so much as a breeze in the air, and four people … [Read more...] about Smoking ban: where’s the sense?
Spain smoking
Spain’s smoking ban: stubbing out freedom
Time was when the smell of Spain was a heady blend of coffee, cologne, and tobacco. The coffee is still there, and one still gets the occasional whiff of Heno de Pravia, but the Ducados are increasingly being stubbed out; and when a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants comes into force in January 2011, they will be gone forever. Yes, Spain is finally extending its smoking ban to all public places. The initial smoking ban was first introduced in 2006, and was meant to apply to all public places. But the Popular Party’s Madrid boss, Esperanza Aguirre, played the regional card, challenging the government and saying that she wouldn’t be enforcing the law in the capital’s bars and … [Read more...] about Spain’s smoking ban: stubbing out freedom