Ireland stubs out smoking

The Republic of Ireland has finally banned smoking in all workplaces, bringing fresher air to pubs, clubs and restaurants across the country. Despite warnings from the catering trade that more than 70,000 jobs could be at risk because of the law change, the government has appointed 450 extra police officers to enforce the new law and is warning that anyone not complying could be fined as much as 3,000 euros. According to a report in the Daily Telegraph, many of Ireland’s 10,000 pubs have already fixed ashtrays to their outside walls, while there has been a boom for companies manufacturing “cigarette shelters”. At one bar in Dublin, the newspaper reports, a double-decker bus has been parked outside for smokers’ convenience. There are mixed views on the ban; one bar owner told the newspaper: “I’m thinking of situations where we have a group of 40 or 50 rugby fans who come in, light up and I tell them they can’t smoke. But a couple of pints later they light up again. What am I going to do? These are big guys.” Publicans in Northern Ireland are reportedly gearing up to receive coach-loads of “cigarette tourists” in the near future. Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad