Greece Goes Smokeless: Human Rights for All?

Since yesterday an official smoking ban has been imposed by the Greek Parliament in an effort to join many other EU countries that have already gone smokesless. The governments of these countries have decided to act as some kind of dictator with the USA giving the "good" example in the first place - thus forcing people to adopt the lifestyle their governments dictate! This reminds me of the basics of Communism - a regime which, as we all know, has miserably failed.

This said, anti-smoking centres and so- called anti-smoking campaigns have arbitrarily decided about the preferences and the lifestyle of quite a large part of their population. These citizens are labelled as "Smokers". They are treated as second-rate citizens and are often categorised as "drug-addicts" or simply "ghettos".  How very ironic!  The World has miserbaly failed to solve some vital problems such as:

1. Homeless people.

2. Obesity

3. Drugs (by the way smokers are not drug addicts!)

4. Pollution!

Yet, the governments of this world feel free to impose a law: smoking bans! Because, you see, they have solved all other problems. 

I have learnt to respect all people - regardless of whether their habits are different from mine. I am a very heavy smoker  yet I take my own risks.. MY problem!  Yet, like most smokers, I respect non-smokers. I personally banned smoking everywhere in my school but I often sneak a cigarette outside. The smoking ban hasn't been voted in Cyprus yet but out of respect for the children I teach, I decided that no one will be allowed to smoke at my school. I want non-smokers to treat me with just as much respect. This is what I call equal rights as I live in a democratic country.

FIVE ARGUMENTS AGAINST SMOKING BANS IN RESTAURANTS, HOTELS AND BARS

1. I believe in what is fair and suggest 2 separate rooms in restaurants,bars,hotels,cafes - smokers and non-smokers. Not just areas - ROOMS

2. In open air restaurants, cafes or bars, there must be 2 separate areas at a distance - for smokers and non-smokers. That's what I call a democratic option. 

3. Smoking should be totally banned in public transport, offices and workplace. As I said above, I respect non-smokers too much to allow them or their children to breathe my smoke.

4. My husband doesn\t smoke cigarettes. Ah right! He was strong enough to give it up 13 years ago. But he does enjoy the occasional cigar at a restaurant, after a good meal. I love the smell of a good-quality cigar and I think it is unreasonable to ban cigars from a smoking-area where cigarette smoking is allowed!

5. Passive smoking : in the open-air there is no such case! Yet, I understand that some people may not wish to smell someone's smoke: so - outdoors smoking areas should be kept at a reasonable distance from non-smokers and children. Indoors smoking and non-smoking areas should be in completely separate rooms. If this is not possible - I agree with the non smoking ban.

I don't often post such long posts as I also respect my readers' available time. I'd greatly appreciate your own views but ...please don't preach!

Comments

[Christina]

I believe in human rights for all and smokers have rights too! I hated the smoking ban and I'll have second thoughts on going out. I think from now on I can invite my non-smoker friends at my home and if I want to smoke I will do it on my balcony but NOT on the street!

[Haruko]

I am a non smoker but I also respect other people's rights. In Japan there are smoking areas even in hospitals. I often go out and I never had a problem in restaurants as there are smoking and non-smoking areas quite away one from another.

[Karolina]

My mother smokes a lot and I hate that. She also likes hanging out with friends just like I do so now I hope she will smoke less because she hates smoking on the streets.. I was very pleased with the smoking ban in Greece. I don't smoke and I always felt very bad at a restaurant. Even if there are seperate rooms you still get the cigarette smell. When you don't smoke , Anastasia, it really smells bad! Yet, I agree that some very important world problem , maybe more important than smoking, should be solved! Thanks for yet another great post! I won't preach but...try to cut down. Filakia

[Sophia]

If this law is voted in Cyprus as well one thing is certain: I will follow Christina's example and entertain my friends at my home. Besides I love cooking very much and I am sure my friends - even the non-smokers won't mind a few cigarettes. Because ...ask any doctor, you won't get cancer of the lungs because you have briefly breathed a smoker's smoke! Just like no healthy person can have a heart attack because he eats red meat once a week!

[Lisa A]

I used to smoke socially but after the smoking bans in Italy I have gave it up. In Italy no where is allowed to smoke only in the street and at your home. There were many reactions to this and I think now you can find some restaurants with a small smoking section. For me the smoking ban was a good reason to stop smoking.

[Anastasia]

You know,Christina,I've always hated extremes and believed in what is fair for all. Of course smokers have rights too! I refuse to categorise myself as a second-rate citizen just because I smoke.

[Anastasia]

And this is what I call fair for everyone, Haruko. However, you are the exception that confirms the rule. Hardly any non-smokers can really be objective in their points of view on smoking. They'd rather be obsessed and they often lack respect.

[Anastasia]

Sophia mou, if this law is voted in Cyprus, in these hard times of recession, and considering that our economy depends on tourism, many businesses such as hotels, restaurants and bars will close down.

[Anastasia]

One reason why I have recently avoided visiting Italy is because of the particularly strict smoking ban there. I'm glad this ban helped you to give up smoking, yet I'm totally against any kind of ban which deprives the individual from the right to make his own choices while respecting others.

[Anastasia]

Karolina, when there are really separate rooms at a restaurant for smokers and non-smokers, it is practically impossible to smell the smoke! But if the space is limited, yes, it will smell bad for the non-smokers. In this case, as I said, I am for the smoking ban.

[Lakis Ioannou]

I really can't see the connection between smoking bans and ...human rights for all or...totalitarian regimes!! First of all, smoking bans protect the smokers as they smoke less and then the non-smokers. I also believe that the ban should apply to outdoors areas as well. I think that all smokers must realize that smoking bans contribute to a healthier life for all.

[Jeff]

Statewide smoking has been banned in California since 1995 in all enclosed workplaces including bars and restaurants as well as in public parks and gardens. However, provided all workers consent, there are smoking areas within 30 feet of the workplace. I don't smoke cigarettes but I occasionally enjoy a cigar - there are some great cigar bars in San Francisco as well as some restaurants where smoking is allowed.

[Constantinos]

Being a non-smoker, I was very glad to see at last the smoking ban in Greece as well. When I go out I want to enjoy my meal or my drink without having to breathe or smell other people's smoke. Besides, and here I agree with Lakis, smokers are the ones who will most benefit from the ban as they will certainly smoke much less during a night out.

[Anastasia]

I don't think that strict smoking bans contribute to a healthier life. Firstly because smokers won't smoke less as they will smoke twice as much at home. Secondly because well-designed smoking areas even in outdoor cafes , bars and restaurants won't affect non-smokers. This said, I believe that smoking should be strictly prohibited in public parks and gardens as well as at workplaces.

[Anastasia]

Unfortunately for Alkis there are no cigar bars in Cyprus - not in Larnaca anyway.

[Anastasia]

When a smoking area-indoors or outdoors- is situated at quite some distance from the non-smoking area, there's no way you breathe even the tiniest cloud of smoke!