smoking ban

As a non smoker and don't particularly like being in smokey bars.  I went to my local the other week to watch the Barca v Real Madrid game.  It was packed and was the smokiest bar I've ever been in.  My eyes were hurting. (Great atmosphere though!)

But I knew everyone smoked like chimneys in Spain before I moved here, so I can't really complain.

If the ban led to some of the great little tapas bars having to close, that would be a very sad day for Spain.  The ones with outside space will be fine, but the ones in the big cities like Madrid, Sevilla etc that don't have the space for an outside area will be the ones to suffer.

Had some Tapas at Lo de Andres today (nothing new there - lol) and I only noticed one smoker inside the bar!

We had a cerveza or two (how to order beer in Spain) as you might expect - hic! My Barf-day will be next week! 

It was quite busy as usual, and yet a distinct lack of cigarette smoke!

Methinks the Spanish are getting ready for the inevitable... whenever it may happen!

As expected, the smoking ban will come in to force on 2nd Jan 2011.  More info here.

 the bars in my village (near orihuela)say they will ban smoking from 2nd jan as the penalties are up to 30k euros. dont know where they got that figure from. lets see what really happens

Bar owners around our area are still shrugging their shoulders, according to them they have been told nothing official, they only know what we know. I reckon when the 2nd comes there will be a lot of looking up the road to see what others are doing.

I have read this thread with interest, especially nearly being an ex-pipe smoker for the umteenth time!!! I have a packet and a half left, and then no more... (but never say never). As has been said, everyone is entitled to their personal opinion. I have always selected non-smoking Restaurants out of respect for my Partner, although she is an ex-smoker and Spanish, so she knows the ropes better than me.

Even during my previous periods of non-smoking, it did not bother me in Bars to be amongst smokers, there are so many things you can die of, why get so upset over smoking?, like us, if you don't like it, turn round and walk out.

Despite living up in the mountains, the Bar Owners here all intend to comply with the regulations, so the message is obviously getting through.

As a retired Policeman, I would like to put in my penneth over smoking in cars, having been to many accidents over the years where cigarette smoking had a bearing. The opposition is not against smoking a cigarette, it is the fact that a driver is distracted when they accidentally drop the cigarette into their lap, or the ash drops down the front of their blouse, not the smoking itself. Also many smokers, do not want to have to empty their ashtray, so flick the dimp out of the window, which could cause a fire, and the filter also happens to be the one bit of the cigarette that doesn't immediately rot away!!

According to the BBC website, the lower house threw out the Senate's suggested changes and approved the original measures to ban smoking in all bars and restaurants, near hospitals or school playgrounds.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12056524

It doesn't say what the fines are but it does say that the new law will become effective on Sunday.

So you will have to chain smoke that pipe today and tomorrow Shadow but Zapatero is doing all he can to help you give up from 2 January ;-)

Grumpy Old Gran here, My feelings about the smoking ban are summed up by the following article, which I wrote a few months ago. Has any non-smoker NOT had a similar experience?!!! 

I popped into a local bar in El Raso for a coffee the other day – only the weather was so nice I decided to sit outside in the sunshine. I picked up the menu and was about to order some lunch when a middle-aged English couple plonked themselves down on the next table and promptly lit up a couple of Benson and Hedges

Within seconds I was inhaling as much nicotine as they were – and these particular ciggies were just the first of four each that these two unfortunate drug addicts poisoned themselves with in the next hour or so.

Fortunately, I wasn’t there to share the joy of passively permeating my lungs and clothes with the fumes of their cancer sticks. I had long since upped myself and moved to another area of the bar where no one was polluting the air.

Please feel free to leave comments on the above on my Eye on Spain blog.  I can take criticism. I'm used to it! Donna

yes, but don't expect many smokers to agree?. The power of addiction is clearly often stronger than the power of reason. There is enough evidence and warnings for those who choose to listen, but people have to make their own mind up?.

Donna you'll still be in the same boat, as now all the smokers will be outside & the non-smokers will have the inside to themselves.

Not sure how I'll be in the same boat, Gus. There was nowhere I could escape before. Now the air will be nice and clean inside all bars and restaurants - and that's much healthier for EVERYONE, not just non-smokers) The only problem will be dealing with the heat in the summer in bars without air cond. But after five years of enforced passive smoking in Spain, I'll settle for the heat just to get some breathing space.

 But, after tomorrow, you won't be able to get inside any bars.  They'll be full of all those non and ex smokers who said they would only go to bars when smoking was stopped.  With all those saying this, it should be standing room only in all the pubs and bars on the Costas.  Just like it is in UK.

 I detect a strong whiff of cynicism, Bobaol. I'm going inside to get some air...

 Good for you.  As an ex-smoker myself, please excuse me if I don't join you.  The stale beer and urine smells in pubs in UK is really evident now that the smoke doesn't cover it up.  And as for the sweaty armpits of those vest wearing members of the great unwashed British public, well.......just imagine what it'll be like in the Costa bars.....Benidorm on heat, not a pretty thought.

And if any of you want to escape the smoking ban, my offer of you coming round my place for a beer and a smoke still stands, as long as you stay on the front balcony.

Not sure if this video will come through, bobaol, because I'm useless when it comes to technical things. If you can open it, I hope it's not what you have in mind for the balcony smokers!

Sorry, bobaol, it's on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUimx-kwY2k

Brilliant

But thats exactly how its going to be

 Yes, Indeed. Smoking will be banned at some parts of the country. There are penalties that will be given to those intruders of the law. This was taken into real action because of the increasing rate of the lung related diseases because of the volume of the smokers in town. 

 Are you sure it is because of the volume of smokers in towns?  In the 50s and 60s (and even earlier) it was a lot less when around 70% of people smoked.  So how come it is a lot higher now?  Could it possibly have something to do with the fact that there were very few cars on the road in the 50s and earlier?  Even in the early sixties I remember there being only 2 cars in our whole street in UK.  Now, with 2 cars per household being the norm, don't you think this could have something to do with the increase in asthma and lung diseases considering the level of smoking is less than 25% of the population?  

Not an advocate of smoking since I stopped but I do feel people have become rather, shall we say, sensitive about things lately.  It's like getting on a plane and they say someone on board has a peanut allergy so no-one can open a packet of peanuts in case the peanut dust gets in the atmosphere.  There were over 700 deaths in UK last year amongst pedestrians crossing the road.  Obviously, the only way to stop this is to stop pedestrians crossing the road.  

There were over 700 deaths in UK last year amongst pedestrians crossing the road.  Obviously, the only way to stop this is to stop pedestrians crossing the road. 

& 83% of all road accidents involving pedestrians are caused by them. Gov. reports TRL 323 & 325. So yes , lets ban them !