No smokes rule did not cost US bar jobs

IF it wasn’t so serious I’d be inclined to laugh whenever I read about the moaners and complainers who feel their little world will collapse if smoking is banned in pubs.

I have lived in California since 1984 and I vividly remember the very same arguments put forward several years ago in a futile attempt to preserve people’s right to poison others.

I heard those same arguments more recently when a similar ban was proposed in New York.

Thankfully, neither of these pro-smoke, anti- health groups succeeded and smoking is now illegal in California and New York bars. In fact, smoking is banned in all buildings in California except private homes. The truth is that there was no economic calamity either here or in New York. Pubs and restaurants did not lose business. None went broke because of the ban.

I congratulate Micheál Martin for his efforts. He must be under tremendous pressure to capitulate. He must not and he deserves everyone’s support.

Denis Kiely,

San Diego,

California,

USA.