Trouble brews in Ireland over smoking ban Sweeping new law called unenforceable

Calgary Herald viaThe Associated Press ^ | Saturday, March 27, 2004 | Shawn Pogatchnik

[Murtyo]

Ireland is about to ban tobacco from workplaces, but rebellion hangs heavy in the air, particularly in that smokiest of places, the pub.

"I won't be enforcing it and I won't be telling my staff to enforce it, simple as that," pub owner Danny Healy-Rae said of the ban, which takes effect Monday.

It applies to any enclosed work space, including more than 10,000 pubs, as well as billiard halls, private clubs, home offices, even a lone trucker's cab.

"We've a busy enough job to do here as it is, and we can't be chasing people into the television lounge or the toilets," added Healy-Rae, whose pub is in the County Kerry village of Kilgarvan, where, as is typical in rural Ireland, most customers smoke.

"We'll have to just let everyone smoke away as usual and the hell with what they say in Dublin."

Ever since Health Minister Michael Martin proposed the ban last year, surveys have shown a majority of Ireland's 3.9 million people, about 25 per cent of whom are smokers, support the idea. It would be the most sweeping restriction on cigarette smoking imposed by any country.

But enforcing the ban may be difficult.

Under the guidelines of the government's Office of Tobacco Control, pub owners can face fines of up to the equivalent of $5,200 Cdn per offence if they fail to make "all reasonable efforts" to deter smoking.

The guidelines specify pubs should display "no smoking" signs prominently at their entrances, bar areas and restrooms. Bar staff should tell smokers they're committing an offence, then, if they don't stop, refuse to serve them and ask them to leave.

If the customer refuses, the guidelines suggest calling the national police force. Police officers have reacted with outrage.

"It's not a function for a police force at all. We haven't resources to deal with far more serious issues, never mind dealing with obstreperous smokers," said P.J. Stone, spokesman for the police officers' main union.

The ban's key enforcers are about 40 Health Department inspectors, who will be responsible for spotting violations in pubs and hotels. Another 100 inspectors from the Health and Safety Authority, who currently monitor building sites, farms and other workplaces, will be asked to check for smoking employees, too.

Pubgoers predict that in tight-knit rural villages, pub owners will risk a fine rather than turn away familiar faces.

"This is a middle-class ban for city-centre pubs in Dublin and a few other cities and towns," said Terry Rafferty, a retired bank manager and pub connoisseur from western County Mayo.

"In Dublin you've got huddles of health-conscious people, trendies. But out in the sticks, forget it. They're still very happily health-unconscious."

[Murtyo]

"We'll have to just let everyone smoke away as usual and the hell with what they say in Dublin."

[squidly]

"It's not a function for a police force at all. We haven't resources to deal with far more serious issues, never mind dealing with obstreperous smokers," said P.J. Stone, spokesman for the police officers' main union.

I've gotta hand it to anyone who uses the word obstreperous in a statement to the press.

[Eastbound]

Pinging all you 'obstreperous' smokers! ;>

[NYCVirago]

I've gotta hand it to anyone who uses the word obstreperous in a statement to the press.

Yep. I wish more New Yorkers were obstreperous about their smoking; then maybe we could get rid of our stupid smoking laws!

[tcostell]

Here is the real issue in a country where one typical old saying is "Having a fishing license never made you fish any better."

These nuisance laws that go against the grain of Irish culture are simply ignored by the populace and given a nod by the local enforcement authority. Like the pub closing time. If the people still want a drink they simply pull the shades down, lock the door and keep drinking. (when the Garda shows up everyone goes out back and waits for them to leave. The people know, and the police know... it's why they only stop by after hours when the weather is good.) Do you think you can get the Irish to behave differently simply by changing the laws? ... tell it to the British.

[Gabz]

Ping - a - ling!!!!!

[SheLion]

[metesky]

"In Dublin you've got huddles of health-conscious people, trendies. But out in the sticks, forget it. They're still very happily health-unconscious."

I love it when I get another chance to repost this:

In Praise of Bad Habits

Healthism is a religion.

"Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies, The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

[Publius6961]

It's refreshing to see real productive civil disobedience once in a while.
I was just thinking this morning about boards and bodies which we elect to serve us, where the first item on their agenda is to make outrageous rules.

Fortunately, the Irish have a long history of personally dealing with this sort of thing. I see no difference in this case. Goes for enforcers and for snitches both.
I predict the death of a few very healthy (and delusional) busibodies. No, I do not live in Ireland.

[SheLion]

Just announced on Fox News:
Neil Cavuto Show at 4pm est today.........

How the smoking bans have business owner's fuming and how the bans are killing the economy! The business owners are telling the cities to LIGHTEN UP!

I will be watching. It's about time someone on the news told the REAL truth! I think we will all agree on this one!

[Just another Joe]

It applies to any enclosed work space, including more than 10,000 pubs, as well as billiard halls, private clubs, home offices, even a lone trucker's cab.

Private clubs, home offices, even the cab of an OTR long haul trucker.
Any bets on how long it will last?

[metesky]

Gypo Nolan comes to a bad end.

[FoxPro]

If you don't drink, and you don't smoke' you will die healthy.

[Incorrigible]

Haven't yet heard how this is going over in Inchicore!

[TEXASPROUD]

I'm sure the next time I go to Ireland, I'll be smoking a cigar in a little Shebeen outside of Paulstown. I "know" the locals, have been accepted by them, and will enjoy a smoke and a pint as I have many times before.

[Happygal]

This is a bleedin' disaster.

I've no fingernails left!

[Squantos]

Having only ever smoked cigars to light time fuse it's a moot point for me but it is more incrementalism that is sweeping our neighborhoods, cities, states and world. If ya don't like smoke then only go to places of business that choose to ban smoking on their property. If ya do like to smoke then etc etc.......

We all stand against such or we all fall subject to it in some form in the very near future.

Stay safe !

[Mears]

Thanks,I'll be sure to watch it.

Tha all Ireland ban started last night also,I'm curious to see how that is going.

[Remole]

10,000 pubs in Ireland, a nation of 3.5 million!! That works out to one pub for every 350 people. Not to mention the people who drink in more than one pub a day . . .

[Mears]

Ignore my last post,I've obviously had a bad day,out house hunting.