Ottawa leads Dublin in
banning cigarette smoke
Cigarette smoke, the
modern day curse that
has caused more cancer
deaths than any other
carcinogen, is being
tackled on a city by
city basis in Canada
and Ireland.
Canada's capital city,
Ottawa, led the way
in 2001 with a municipal
ban on smoking in restaurants
and pubs. There was
an immediate outcry
that businesses would
be ruined, jobs would
be lost, and a thousand
and one ills would befall
the city and its inhabitants.
Court action was taken
"to protect smokers'
rights".
"Our freedom to
pollute ourselves and
others is at stake."
After much posturing,
the hub-bub died down,
and Ottawa became a
cleaner and healthier
place in which to dine
and drink.
Most public offices and
buildings had been declared
smoke-free areas even
before the municipal
ban took effect. Other
Canadian cities are
following Ottawa's lead.
The once unthinkable
is now about to happen
in Ireland's capital
city, Dublin.
The country's Minister
for Health has announced
a total ban on smoking
in Dublin's restaurants
and pubs will come into
effect in January of
2004.
The reaction of the Licensed
Vintners' Association
was immediate, just
like the reaction of
their brethren in Ottawa.
"The idea of a
total ban in pubs is
a dream", said
its spokesman Frank
Fell.
If the Canadian experience
is anything to go by,
Dublin will be a cleaner
and healthier place
in which to dine and
drink once the ban comes
into effect.
Meantime non-smokers
may recall, with a smile,
the nursery rhyme:
I do not like thee,
Dr. Fell,
The reason why I
cannot tell;
But this I know,
I know full well,
I do not like thee,
Dr. Fell.
--30--
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