At One Rebellious Pub, Ireland's Tobacco Ban Goes Up in Smoke

Associated Press ^ | Jul 7, 2004 | Shawn Pogatchnik

[ijcr]

Cripes!

[farfromhome]

When smoking is outlawed only the Lawless will have smoking.

[dila813]

Good idea, I would support a bar with the guts to do the same in the US. They should openly say shove it to the government.

[draoi]

If tobacco had been discovered in the late 20th century, there's no way tobacco would be legal.

I think health concerns override personal freedom here.

[patton]

Really? Exactly what health concerns?

According to the largest metastudy on ETS ever conducted, ETS has a prophalactic effect.

That was done by the WHO.

[Calico Cat]

I don't agree that health concerns override freedom in this case.

If you don't want to be exposed to secondhand smoke, you have a choice: don't go into a place in which smoking is permitted. Period.

[HiTech RedNeck]

where there's smoke there's ire(land)

[omniscient]

If tobacco had been discovered in the late 20th century, there's no way tobacco would be legal.

That also goes for motorcycles (too dangerous) and professional baseball (too boring). Things should be left to run their course naturally. Smoking will eventually disappear on its own, without the help of these meddling busybodies.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

You may suppress it for a time you may slow it a bit you may attempt to forget it or turn it back you may use it frivolously or keep note of its every turn through history but you will never stop it as it twists and turns pushes and shoves it becomes a driving force in the lives of all it touches.

Freedom the ultimate life experience try some today !

[draoi]

The staff who work in these places did not have a choice about the air they breathe. In the case, I think their rights are more important than mine as a smoker.

[Calico Cat]

They have a choice about where they work, for God's sake. Believe me--there are plenty of non-smoking establishments out there, and there are always job openings (I know; I bartended for eight years.)

[mucrospirifer]

Are these staff members feudal serfs who are chained to their place of employment from the day they're born until the day they die?

[tomakaze]

re:The staff who work in these places did not have a choice about the air they breathe.
 
They sure as hell have a choice about where they work.

[Madame Dufarge]

Following your "logic" then, the pubs should just be closed.

What if a drunken brawl breaks out and one of the enslaved employees is injured?

[Taxman]

"I think health concerns override personal freedom here."

POPPYCOCK!

Government has no right to tell a pub owner whether he can or cannot allow smoking. Such a decision is a business decision best left to the owner.

Whether to support a pub owner's smoking or no smoking election is a decision the customers will make, to the pub owner's benefit or detriment.

It is very simple: if you don't like smoke filled rooms, stay out of them!

[Taxman]

POPPYCOCK!

The staff have the same choices as the customers -- if they don't like smoke filled rooms, they can stay out of them!

I.e., find another job!

[j_tull]

The staff who work in these places did not have a choice about the air they breathe

But they certainly have the choice as to where they work. Your argument reeks of "for the children."

[crazycat]

What is most interesting about this, is that it admits that the Pubs and Bars are being hit hard commercialy.

All the anti smokers have been shouting that there is no financial hardship and that the experiment is a massive success.

Well this news puts all that in perspective. Just more lies from the fascist do gooders

[tdadams]

I'm glad to hear of it. It's about time the people stood up to such ridiculous overreaching of government. And what more appropriate person to do it than Lawless. ha ha.

I've had a couple of pints at Fibbers in Galway. It's a great lively place. The Irish definitely are gregarious people.

[tdadams]

The staff who work in these places did not have a choice about the air they breathe. In the case, I think their rights are more important than mine as a smoker.

They have the right to find another job if they don't like smoke!