Tobacco giant clears the air on extraction

DESPITE all the evidence to the contrary, vintner representatives and the Irish Hospitality Industry Alliance constantly suggest to politicians and the public that ventilation systems are the answer to dealing with the health effects of passive smoke.

Since they do not appear to be willing to listen to the health lobby on this issue, perhaps they might take on board what the tobacco industry says about ventilation systems. Philip Morris, the biggest tobacco company in the world, puts it nicely for them.

On their website, they have a lovely disclaimer: “While not shown to address the health effects of secondhand smoke, ventilation can help improve the air quality of an establishment by reducing the sight and smell of smoke and by controlling smoke drift.”