Ireland: more pockets of resistance

Did I mention I was in Cork this week?

Following an earlier trip to Ireland I described the smoking 'area' at a pub in Kilkenny and asked whether it was the best smoking room in the world (taking into account the small matter of Ireland's hugely illiberal anti-smoking laws).

This week we visited a bar in Cork where smokers are similarly well looked after.

It had an outdoor smoking area running the length of the building. This had benches, chairs and tables, plus plants, heaters and ashtrays. Better still it had solid walls on either side of the 'lane' and was covered from one end to the other so customers were well protected from the elements. At one point I even took off my overcoat. (This is January, remember.)

It was busy when we arrived. When we left, well after midnight, the area was awash with people smoking and drinking. Even I, a lifelong non-smoker, succumbed to a cigarette or two. It seemed rude not to.

When we left most of the people around us were students or under 30 and smoking in that environment seemed as natural as, well, breathing.

Let's be clear, though. Smoker-friendly habitats in Ireland are an exception not the rule and the authorities will crack down whenever it suits them.

Shortly before Christmas, for example, we received a tip off that several bars in Dublin had been raided because their 'smoking rooms' were judged to be in breach of the law.

The raids weren't reported by the Irish media but further enquiries revealed that the bars in question are still open and at least one owner told the authorities to "feck off".

That's the spirit.

Comments

[Helen]

It's nice to see that the odd place has overcome the appalling predicament of the majority of venues in Ireland.

Personally, here in Wigan, I know of no such place.

I have therefore not continued to spend the money that went to hairdressers, high-street shops for clothes, make-up, shoes, perfume and bags, beauticians, taxis, entrance-fees, charity tickets and late-night food since July 2007.

Sorry that it affects the accountants, solicitors and shareholders as well, but it's not my doing.

Apparantly, it appears that the anti-smoking agenda has taken over the economic regeneration of our country.

Most countries of the world (and the EU) have accepted that some people smoke and some people don't; they have catered for all their citizens.

No chance for our intolerant UK. So be it then.

I, and millions like me, won't be spending; we're not allowed to.

[prog]

'Even I, a lifelong non-smoker, succumbed to a cigarette or two. It seemed rude not to.'

Bloody cadgers - bane of the real smoker! Have you any idea how much fags cost?

Seriously though, you are not alone. There are many 'non-smokers' who do smoke, albeit only occasionally. This fact appears to have been virtually ignored by TC.