'Ban smoking at outdoor restaurants in Sweden'

[Deleted]

http://www.thelocal.se/20160607/ban-...ants-in-sweden

It is high time for Sweden to stub out smoking in public places, write Swedish campaigners Mona Wahlgren and Maritha Sedvallson.

All outdoor restaurants, cafés and bars in Sweden could become non-smoking. A government inquiry reviewing tobacco legislation to reduce the use of tobacco is currently being looked at by a long line of organizations and government agencies. Their deadline to put forward their views is July 1st. The proposal that will be put to parliament has yet to be outlined, but such a smoking ban could very well go through.

Public opinion is for a smoke-free society, according to a major survey on behalf of Cancerfonden.

People want to breathe fresh air at restaurants, both inside and outside. Staff at restaurants welcomed the decision to ban smoking in the pub, when that law came into force 11 years ago. The decision was preceded by heated debates where worried commentators predicted the death of all pubs and unemployment, but just the opposite happened. Fresh air is appreciated.

It is time to ban smoking in outdoor seating areas and some other public outdoor areas as well.

Forced smoke, so-called passive smoking, is unhealthy. There are no levels of smoke low enough to be harmless, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which has therefore proposed legislation as the only option of getting rid of the smoke. The WHO Framework Convention of Tobacco Control, of which Sweden is a signatory, recommends zero tolerance.

A week ago it was the day of the WHO's international tobacco-free day. We don't think that there should be a blanket ban on smoking, but everyone should be able to breathe fresh air. Not having to be exposed to second-hand smoke is especially important to people with asthma or allergies and to children. The lessons learned when smoking was banned at indoor resturants and bars show that not even smokers themselves appreciate cigarette smoke when there is good food to be enjoyed.

We need legislation for some non-smoking outdoor environments, such as at entrances to public buildings, on train station platforms and bus stops, at restaurant outdoor seating areas and in outdoor stadiums.

There is strong popular support for a more restrictive tobacco legislation. Demoskop polled more than 5,300 people on behalf of Cancerfonden this spring, suggesting that three out of four people wanted measures banning smoking in public places such as playgrounds, bus stops and outdoor cafes and so on.

If more people stop smoking and more places become non-smoking, children will not find smoking role models and will not be attracted to smoking. Smoking will then be seen as unusual behaviour. It would also help those who want to quite smoking. More non-smoking places also means a smaller risk of accidents because children are in various ways harmed or injured by cigarette butts.

Those who suffer from asthma, allergies or other kinds of hyper-sensitivity enjoy the same right as everyone else to be able to hang out at outdoor bars, platforms or bus stops. Accessibility is a right. Allergy symptoms when exposed to second-hand smoke is very common. In Sweden, around ten percent of all children and adults have hay fever, which is most cases mean that you are extra sensitive to tobacco smoke.

As early as 2003, parliament set a target that from 2014 nobody would be exposed to forced second-hand smoke. This target is far from met. But there is a possibility now of making good progess in terms of a smoke-free society, accessible to all.

It is our hope that the Swedish parliament this year votes to ban smoking in those public outdoor places recommended by the government tobacco inquiry.

What do you think about smoking bans in public places?

[ranzino]

As a non-smoker of course something i would applaud. But smokers would be pissed and scream oppression.

[Evil Midnight Bomber]

http://www.thelocal.se/20160607/ban-...ants-in-sweden



What do you think about smoking bans in public places?

To sum up my thoughts in one concise image:

[Afrospinach]

What do you think about smoking bans in public places?

Well not going to lie, I really hate cigarette smoke. Outside doesn't make it any better when it is constantly being huffed about the place.

I can see how after the indoor ban this could be seen as a bit of a blow however.

[Kalis]

If it is in outdoor areas, then I think it should be up to the establishment.

[nonameelf]

Good. If you want to smoke do it in your own place, not where other people have to put up with it.

[Deleted]

As a non-smoker of course something i would applaud. But smokers would be pissed and scream oppression.

I'm a smoker and won't be pissed or scream oppression.

[Alcomo]

Great idea. If people want to kill themselves, they can do so in the privacy of their own homes.

[Rend Blackhand]

Smokers fund half the health service with the amount of tax of cigarettes. Let's not restrict them further

[ranzino]

I'm a smoker and won't be pissed or scream oppression.

Most gracious Lady, you are an exemption then. You know, smokers can be very stubborn about their habits.

[Serpha]

Good. If you want to smoke do it in your own place, not where other people have to put up with it.

The world is big, you don't have to put up with anything, move away, problem solved.

[Captain N]

Former smoker -- Take it elsewhere. I dont really want to be smelling your smoke while I'm eating. A smoking section in any restaurant is like a peeing section in a public pool

[Dug]

Yep should be. I'm a smoker and I don't care about smoking bans, its a disgusting habit that people shouldn't be subjected to just because someone can't be fucked to seclude themselves to feed their addiction. We already have smoking bans within 20 feet of a buildings entrance around here

[Alcomo]

Smokers fund half the health service with the amount of tax of cigarettes. Let's not restrict them further

They also use up those same funds by being sickly and tying up the system. Do you realize how much money it costs just to look after a single person with COPD?

[Theinquisition]

If it is in outdoor areas, then I think it should be up to the establishment.

Pretty much this.

why does gov't need to get involved in how a business operates?

If they want to allow smoking, and you don't like it, go somewhere else. If they lose enough money they will change.

[Kantalope]

As a smoker, it's gross to smoke when you eat, and even grosser for someone who doesn't smoke to have to deal with the smoke when they eat. Please, let me smoke in bars, though.

[Kalis]

They also use up those same funds by being sickly and tying up the system. Do you realize how much money it costs just to look after a single person with COPD?

Probably not where gypsybob is from, the taxes on tobacco are very high in the UK (so presumably they are in the Channel Islands as well) and more than pay for what they cost the NHS and economy as a whole.

[nonameelf]

The world is big, you don't have to put up with anything, move away, problem solved.

Why should other people be inconvenienced so a handful of people can smoke in public?

[Pwellzor]

Smokers fund half the health service with the amount of tax of cigarettes. Let's not restrict them further

Yeah there is a reason for that tax and it isn't just because smoking smells bad in public areas.

[Rendark]

It should be up to the restaurants and bars to ban smoking in there places, not the government.