Ireland to Ban Smoking in Bars from March 29

[TexasStooge]

This is much similar to the smoking ban in Dallas, Texas.

DUBLIN, Ireland (Reuters) - Ireland will introduce a tobacco ban on March 29 making it the first country in Europe to outlaw smoking in pubs, bars and restaurants, the government said on Wednesday.

Those who defy the ban will be liable to a fine of up to 3,000 euros ($3,824), Health Minister Micheal Martin told a news conference.

"I am pleased that the way is now clear to enforce this important legislation, which has the overwhelming support of the majority of people in Ireland," he said.

"There can be no dispute over the damaging effect of tobacco and second-hand smoke. The speculation and debate are over."

Ireland vowed last year to bring in the smoking ban but had delayed its introduction due to the problems of implementing it in certain places like prisons, psychiatric hospitals and police detention centers.

Those areas will still be exempt, as will hotel bedrooms and nursing homes, but the ban will cover all other places of work, closed public spaces and public transport.

Critics of the ban -- led by publicans, restaurant owners and the tobacco industry -- say it will destroy Ireland's renowned pub culture and will not be enforceable.

The Vintners' Federation of Ireland described the ban as "unworkable."

The government accuses its opponents of scaremongering and says it is determined to do something to prevent the 7,000 deaths blamed on smoking in Ireland each year.

Health groups hailed the announcement as historic.

"(It) could in time be viewed as the most important health initiative undertaken this century by an Irish government," said Professor Luke Clancy, chairman of the Irish branch of anti-smoking lobby group ASH.

Michael O'Shea, Chief Executive of the Irish Heart Foundation, said it would "hopefully herald a new era for Irish society -- an era when health is set as a priority over other interests."

Advocates of the ban say the Irish are setting an example which will eventually be copied across Europe. EU Health Commissioner David Byrne, who is Irish, has said he would like other countries in the bloc to follow suit.

Greece, home to the heaviest smokers in the European Union, has already introduced a ban on lighting up in some public places but has not extended it to bars and restaurants.

Norway is due to impose a ban similar to the Irish one on June 1 this year.

Smoking bans have also been introduced in several American cities including New York. ($1=.7846 Euro)

[JCT777]

Sounds good to me. I hate breathing in second-hand smoke.

[blizzard]

Minnesota is introducing legislation to institute a state wide ban on smoking in public places including bars, restaurants and all places of employment whether public or not..

[breeze]

Good God! If Ireland bans it, what will some
hilllbilly state like Tennessee do? :o

[ColdFront77]

Florida has a smoking ban in place. I believe the vote in November 2002 was 68% to 32% to ban smoking in restaurants. The law took effect on July 1st, 2003.

[Stephanie]

Delaware has a similar ban as well.

I'm amazed that Ireland of all places is the first country in Europe to start this myself.

[nystate]

New York state has had a ban for some time now...I'm glad it exists. Think of the number of lives that will be saved!

[Guest]

Sorry but this i am totally against! ITS BS! Atleast have selected restaurants and more so bars where people can go to have a smoke. And please dont tell me about second hand smoke either which i am fully aware of which is why i said selected places that you can smoke in and well if your a non smoker then you can go to the next place up the road that doesnt allow it and the same goes for smokers.

BTW That same BS law in DE is hurting alot of small buisnesses (Restaurants & Bars) especially in southern DE because them morons forgot to include non profit orgs which is where alot of people are now going to such as the American legions (that seems to be allowing anyone to join anymore btw) and so forth and killing places such as one that i worked at for 10 yrs because of this!

What irks me even more is how this law in DE came to be because certain buisness owners like one my brother worked for who was in favor of this bs law lied his arse off about how non smoking affected his buisness before this law came into beeing. (more or less said the test of non smoking in that place didnt adversly affect the buisness) Which i seen for myself because that place once they did the test to see how it would go everyone left there and started going elsewhere and whats worse is no evidence of this was asked for such as recipts etc! And they werent the only ones to do that either!!!!!

Whats ironic about this is last i heard they are now talking of revising the law to only allow for smoking at its Three casinos (Slots) in the state because it has hurt them and DE draws alot of revenue from these three places as does the harness racing industry which is where these places are located and more or less saved them from extintion when the slots opend up!

ok thats my rant for the evening!
Now go ahead and chew me a new one!

[streetsoldier]

Here, restaurants, stores, businesses and bars can make the decision to (a) totally ban cigarettes, or (b) keep the "main room" smoke-free, while having a separate, smaller room for smokers. All city/county/State offices are already "Nichts Rauchen".

Frankly, I feel like a latter-day Rosa Parks when the hostess escorts me to the "back of the bus"...

[ColdFront77]

We all know smoking is unhealthy and many smokers understand, thus are willing to not smoke around people who don't want to "second-hand smoke."