I was slightly surprised to see that France is going to ban smoking in public places (including bars and restaurants). About 15 years ago they introduced a law which was supposed to make it mandatory to have a no-smoking area in all bars and restaurants, but my experience was that this was largely ignored (at least in rural backwaters). A bar would have a sign saying ‘Espace non fumeur’ but it would be moved around to any empty table. Or an outhouse was designated as the ‘no smoking’ area. Or anything that would allow the customers to carry on smoking.
Smokers and tobacco companies always predict terrible things will happen when new restrictions are introduced, but then they would say that, wouldn’t they. The reality is that people do adjust to the new rules. It also has significant benefits for the staff who work in bars, as the BBC reports today (Scots bar workers health improved).
It’s about to happen in Hong Kong as well, as reported in yesterday’s SCMP (Smoking ban set to become law next year – subscription required):
Major political parties also expressed support for the Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Bill and even a key opponent, catering-sector legislator Tommy Cheung Yu-yan said he expected it to pass. The bill will go through the second and third readings in the Legislative Council next Wednesday.
Expected to take effect on January 1, it will initially ban smoking in indoor workplaces, restaurants, karaoke venues, private clubs, bars open to all ages, beaches, outdoor escalators and barbecue areas.
It will be extended on July 1, 2009, to cover bars open only to those aged 18 and older, mahjong parlours, commercial bath houses, massage establishments, mahjong clubs and nightclubs.
One area of contention – a government proposal that smoking areas of no more than 1 per cent of the total area be allowed in large in parks and playgrounds – was rejected by a lawmakers’ bills committee studying the legislation. “The government would like to leave some room for the park-goers because there is more fresh air in parks to reduce the effect of smoking to the other people,” the government source said.
This being Hong Kong, I think they really do mean “more fresh air”.
Ordinary Gweilo 
Leave a comment