Smoke ban is turning Ireland into a little USA
These laws, in effect, make second-class citizens of the smoker. Not only is there considerable loss of revenue and jobs resulting from this law, but stresses on family and social life stresses are becoming readily apparent.
Last Sunday, January 25, The Orlando Sentinel printed an article as follows:
"Carnival Cruise Lines ship 'Paradise' is shedding its 'No Smoking' designation. Since 1998 and even under construction, this ship did not allow smoking in or around it."
The reason for the change of heart? Some travel agents stated that the strict, nonsmoking stance made it difficult to book groups because in all groups there are at least one smoker.
I am sure Irish readers will recall An Tobar pub in Galway, the first to go non-smoking, but abandoned the experiment due to unpopularity after 20 weeks. Research by Dr Keith Philips of Covance Laboratories, Harrogate, England, showed that even the most heavily exposed non-smoker inhales only .02% of one cigarette a day. Research by Dr James Enstron on 35,500 smoker/non-smoker couples over a 40-year period failed to find any noticeable increase in health effects to the non-smoker.
There are many such studies which have shown similar results but who do we wish to believe?
What is the truth behind this smokescreen? If we honestly don't know, then maybe a half measure is really the answer allow pub and restaurant owners to make their own laws, ie smoking or non-smoking. What happens then? The non-smoking pubs change back to smoking, where the money is!
Ten years ago, after my lifelong annual visits to that paradise of freedom, sincerity, friendliness and above all, tolerance that I felt was Ireland, I bought a home in Mitchelstown, Co Cork. Next year I intend to dispense with it.
Why? Despite the most wonderful neighbours, relatives and friends there, it is becoming America writ small.
Indeed, the Celtic Tiger appears to have a voracious appetite for gobbling up all the values that I believe Ireland once held to be so dear.
Rick Delahunty.
1109, Pine Ridge Dairy Road,
Fruitland Park,
Florida 34731,
USA.
