Hi everyone and a happy new year!
This is the first entry of 2011. As you know, today, January 2nd, is the date Spanish smokers were dreading as a comprehensive smoking ban is put into practice. That's why I've decided to publish this short CNN feature about the news, including this short video which summarizes the situation. You will notice most of the ideas heard in the clip are presented, more or less literally, in the article's written text:
This is the first entry of 2011. As you know, today, January 2nd, is the date Spanish smokers were dreading as a comprehensive smoking ban is put into practice. That's why I've decided to publish this short CNN feature about the news, including this short video which summarizes the situation. You will notice most of the ideas heard in the clip are presented, more or less literally, in the article's written text:
Madrid, Spain (CNN) -- A law in Spain that goes into effect Sunday bans smoking in indoor bars and restaurants, and gives the nation some of the toughest smoking restrictions in western Europe. The law will put Spain in line with Britain, France and Italy, which prohibit smoking in all enclosed public places.
Spain's hotel and restaurant federation warns of a 10 percent drop in business and tens of thousands of job losses in the midst of the nation's deep economic crisis.
But the government says similar laws elsewhere in Europe did not hurt business in the long run. Juan Carlos Sanchez says he goes to a neighborhood bar several times a day to have a cigarette with his coffee or beer. Like many smokers here, he is adamantly opposed to the new law. "If I can't smoke here in the bar, maybe I'll come just once a day, or not at all. When I ask for a coffee or beer, but then have to smoke in the street, I don't understand," said Sanchez, who manufactures filters for air conditioners.
Fernando Vazquez, owner of a bar and restaurant in Madrid where Sanchez was smoking late last week, said the smoke-free air starting on Sunday might be nice. But it will come at a price for his business. "Spaniards spend a lot of time in bars and will probably spend less time now," Vazquez said. "Instead of drinking three or four beers, they'll have one."
Spaniards have had a relationship with tobacco for 500 years. Explorer Christopher Columbus saw tobacco on his voyages to the New World and Spanish sailors brought it to Europe. So undoing old habits is not easy here.
A law four years ago banned smoking at work. But it essentially allowed Spain's 300,000 bars and restaurants to choose whether they would prohibit smoking. Most did not. This time, there are supposed to be no exceptions, as the government tries to reduce the 50,000 tobacco-related deaths each year.
Nearly a third of Spaniards puff away and smoke-filled bars have been the norm.
Business owner Florentino Matamala is a former smoker who supports the legislation. "People can't quit overnight and those who are used to smoking while having a coffee are going to have it rough. But I think it's positive, for the general good."
So what do you think? Is it OK to toughen the existing law by banning smoking in all enclosed public places, including bars, discos and restaurants? Or is the measure too prohibitionary? Perhaps should some outside areas be added to these premises?
On the other hand, do you agree with the exception made in prisons, psychiatric wards and old people's homes? Is it fair or just absurd?
Why not post your comments here?
Spain's hotel and restaurant federation warns of a 10 percent drop in business and tens of thousands of job losses in the midst of the nation's deep economic crisis.
But the government says similar laws elsewhere in Europe did not hurt business in the long run. Juan Carlos Sanchez says he goes to a neighborhood bar several times a day to have a cigarette with his coffee or beer. Like many smokers here, he is adamantly opposed to the new law. "If I can't smoke here in the bar, maybe I'll come just once a day, or not at all. When I ask for a coffee or beer, but then have to smoke in the street, I don't understand," said Sanchez, who manufactures filters for air conditioners.
Fernando Vazquez, owner of a bar and restaurant in Madrid where Sanchez was smoking late last week, said the smoke-free air starting on Sunday might be nice. But it will come at a price for his business. "Spaniards spend a lot of time in bars and will probably spend less time now," Vazquez said. "Instead of drinking three or four beers, they'll have one."
Spaniards have had a relationship with tobacco for 500 years. Explorer Christopher Columbus saw tobacco on his voyages to the New World and Spanish sailors brought it to Europe. So undoing old habits is not easy here.
A law four years ago banned smoking at work. But it essentially allowed Spain's 300,000 bars and restaurants to choose whether they would prohibit smoking. Most did not. This time, there are supposed to be no exceptions, as the government tries to reduce the 50,000 tobacco-related deaths each year.
Nearly a third of Spaniards puff away and smoke-filled bars have been the norm.
Business owner Florentino Matamala is a former smoker who supports the legislation. "People can't quit overnight and those who are used to smoking while having a coffee are going to have it rough. But I think it's positive, for the general good."
So what do you think? Is it OK to toughen the existing law by banning smoking in all enclosed public places, including bars, discos and restaurants? Or is the measure too prohibitionary? Perhaps should some outside areas be added to these premises?
On the other hand, do you agree with the exception made in prisons, psychiatric wards and old people's homes? Is it fair or just absurd?
Why not post your comments here?
I don't know if the new tobbaco law is extremely strict for
ReplyDeletesmokers but smoke bothers a lot and bars without smoke are truly
fantastic. I'm so sorry for smokers!
BELEN (NA)
I strongly agree with new tobbaco law, 70 % or thereabouts of Spaniards are non-active smokers and from now on they will be non-passive somkers anymore. Most of European countries have banned smoking previously and their clients have not changed at all. I have been in bars which decided to prohibit smoking four years ago and they are allways plenty of people.
ReplyDeleteCristina López (C1):
ReplyDeleteI also strongly agree with this new law. I couldn’t imagine a better way of beginning a new year: tasting a tapa in a so clean atmosphere! I found some incredolous people who thought this change wouldn’t work and smokers wouldn’t pay attention and would carry on smoking in bars and restaurants. Now I am very happy that we Spaniards are civilised citizens and, although sometimes in an inwillingly mood, smokers are respecting non smokers and are conscious of the harm their pockets would suffer in case they’d change their minds. I am not sorry for smokers, I have been sorried for me and smokers for a long time, now I feel free to breathe in closed places in my own country.
Cristina López (C1):
ReplyDeleteSorry, I meant: "I have been sorried for me and NON smokers for a long time, now I feel free to breathe in closed places in my own country."