European Plan To Outlaw Smoking In Bars

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 9-19-2003 | Ambrose Evans-Prichard

[blam]

European plan to outlaw smoking in bars

By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard in Brussels
(Filed: 19/09/2003)

The European Commission is drawing up plans for a ban on smoking in bistros, bars and cafes across the European Union, ignoring the message from Swedish voters in last weekend's euro vote that Brussels is meddling too much in national affairs.

Legally, Brussels lacks the power to dictate tobacco policy, but EU officials believe that they can force through the rules as a health and safety measure aimed at protecting workers from the effects of passive smoking.

The proposals are certain to face strong resistance from some EU governments which may be able to veto the idea. They will also be opposed by sections of the European Parliament, and may not come into force for several years.

David Byrne, the European health commissioner, said the plans were at an early stage but would ultimately take the form of restrictive laws.

"My officials are working to try to see in what way we can bring forward policy that is directed at this problem," he said.

"There might ultimately be legal exposure for employers in circumstances where workers have been exposed to this risk."

It was crucial to protect employees who were often exposed to smoke for hours on end, he told the Brussels news agency EUpolitix.com.

Perversely, the EU continues to spend £700 million a year, or one per cent of its budget, on subsidies for tobacco farmers in Greece, southern Italy and the Loire Valley in France.

Terry Wynn, a Labour Euro-MP and chairman of the European Parliament's budget committee, said this situation made a mockery of Mr Byrne's anti-smoking drive.

"It's a nonsense to try to stop smoking while you're spending a billion to grow the stuff. It does the credibility of the EU no good whatsoever," he said. Mr Byrne, a straight-laced Irishman, has made it a personal crusade in Brussels to cut smoking.

Ireland and Holland already impose smoking bans on restaurants, forcing diners out on to the pavement if they want to light up. But smoking is still a way of life across Mediterranean, and EU newcomers such as Poland and other East European states are still cigarette societies.

Mr Byrne said smoking played its part in the death 500,000 Europeans a year and was too important an issue to be left in the hands of national governments.

[Chi-townChief]

This should go over like a screen door on a submarine.

[blam]

"This should go over like a screen door on a submarine."

Be nice. I'm a old diesel sub sailor.

[AF68]

...Holland already impose smoking bans on restaurants, forcing diners out on to the pavement if they want to light up.

But you can smoke pot in the marijuana cafes. What about the health of the workers in the reefer dens?

[July 4th]

This one won't go over well. You think the people of New York got screwed over? The percentages of European smokers is still way above our national average. Once again, the unelected government making decisions for everyone.