We have a duty to protect people in law, if nothing else to give them a safe workplace.
- Dr. Fenton Howell
I'm in love with this idea, even though I am well aware of the associated civil liberties issues. No one deserves to be forced to breathe secong-hand smoke. If this means banning smoking in the workplace and other public ares, then so be it. It's not a perfect solution, but then it's not a perfect world, eh?
Employers certainly have a stake in this issue. It would stand to reason that a smoke-free workplace would result in healthier employees and lower rates of absenteeism. Of course, my opinion is anecdotal, but let's be logical, shall we?
The Irish legislation makes it an offence to smoke in workplaces, which has the effect of banning smoking in pubs and restaurants.
A Dutch law bans smoking in public places including railway stations, trains, toilets and offices. But hotels, bars and restaurants there have won a temporary reprieve until 2005.
UK-based pro-smoking group Forest describes it as a "ludicrous law" and spokesman Simon Clark admits he is nervous about the ban spreading across the Irish Sea.
But Dr Fenton Howell, a public health specialist and spokesman for Action on Smoking and Health Ireland, said the move was primarily a health and safety issue, freeing people from having to work in a smoky environment.
Anyone who has spent any time in Europe, particularly the former Eastern Bloc countries, knows how prevalent smoking is. Imagine this country in the 60s, and you might be close. Cigarettes are ubiquitous in Europe, much more so than in this country. I can remember feeling as if I was being assaulted by cigarette smoke during my time in the former Yugoslavia. It was simply impossible to get away from it. That probably accounts for me being borderline allergic to cigarette smoke now.
I applaud Ireland for taking a sensible step in protecting public health. I hope that other countries will follow the same path. There is something to be said for breathing clean air.
