Smoking Laws

[Tommydee]

I was a smoker for 50 years went through about 40 a day stopped in 2008 smoking laws in Scotland came into being in 2006 2 years before England you are not allowed to smoke in any public place that is enclosed not even in bus shelters or commercial vehicles just wondering what the law is in your part of the world

Tommy

[Emerald Midi]

In March 2004, my country (Ireland) became the first to introduce a complete ban on smoking in the workplace, paving the way for others to follow. For me, as a non-smoker this was/is the best news ever.

For a full run down on the anti-smoking laws of Ireland visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoking_in_Ireland.

[geordiebennett]

In Spain,most cafes/bars have built three sided shelters furnished with tables and chairs for smokers.They did try to stop the smokers but they were losing too much trade so now they allow it.Spain is a law unto itself anyway,they don't take much notice of EU laws.
Geordie

[Emerald Midi]

Jan 25, 2013 20:51:24 GMT geordiebennett said:

In Spain,most cafes/bars have built three sided shelters furnished with tables and chairs for smokers.They did try to stop the smokers but they were losing too much trade so now they allow it.Spain is a law unto itself anyway,they don't take much notice of EU laws.
Geordie

"They did try to stop the smokers but they were losing too much trade so now they allow it"

Really?

This is not my understand, at all. Friends living in Spain tell me some establishments try to flaunt the law but when discovered they face some of the stiffest sentences in Europe.

[freeway]

Just came across this Article ... but according to friends working over there in Spain/ Lanzarote smoking in bars still exists they say officially once certain guidelines are in place it may be allowed but more often than not those laws are frequently flaunted. Tourism being they're main industry is it any wonder as according to statistics 70% of Spanish are non smokers .

Where is smoking permitted?

Exemptions to the rule exist, in particular relating to bars and restaurants, where the law is considered to be somewhat ambiguous and open to interpretation.

In bars and restaurants in Spain, that have what is defined as "useful surface", i.e. public areas larger than 100 square metres, smoking is banned; however the law allows that completely isolated smoking areas can be created, providing they have good ventilation systems, which can occupy as much as 30% of the public area.

The majority of bars in Spain have a "useful surface" of less than 100 square metres which allows the owner to decide whether they wish to implement a smoke free policy or not. They also have the option to impose a partial ban by either making isolated smoking areas, according to the regulations for larger premises, or by merely putting up signs informing their customers which area is designated for smokers. Initial estimations suggest that less than 10% of smaller premises have gone smoke free and some that did have already reverted back, citing loss of business as the reason.

Smoking areas, again complying with the ventilation requirements, may also be created in hotels, open air theatres, bus stations and airports.[/b]

[Emerald Midi]

Thanks for that Barry. Certainly, some mixed messages there from Spain but it seems it's mostly the tourist trade disregarding the law of the land.

[rogerb]

I stopped smoking about thirty years ago and still even now (nothing worse than an ex-smoker) find the smell quite unpleasant. Here in N. Cyprus the law is much the same as in Britain but along with a good few other regulations is flouted in some bars and restaurants. When I'm in the UK I do sometimes feel a little sorry for the smoking addicts standing out in the cold and rain for a fag. At least here in Cyprus it's likely to be a bit warmer and less wet if and when the rules are enforced. I certainly don't miss going home from gigs with the gear and me reeking of cigarettes.

[geordiebennett]

I do live in Spain and I go to a lot of the cities and villages and they do allow smoking in the way I've said. Some of the bars pick a room and run it as a club so that they can smoke on the premises.
Geordie

[Tommydee]

Thanks guys for your response on the no smoking laws thought i would get the ball rolling a bit as the forum was a bit quite in the last week or so would still like to hear from some of our members outside Europe for example Shyam how does it work in India i know he is a non smoker himself

Tommy

[frankie]

In New Zealand the clubs lost a lot of punters at the start.Over the 1st year non smokers started returning to the clubs.Outside semi covered areas were provided for smokers.I smoked at that stage and found it a pain breaking the gear down without a fag.
In Australia it is illegal to smoke in your car if kids are in it even with window open.
You are still allowed to smoke in your house,garden and jail.
[fag as in smoke]