Andrew Linn, Culture Spain’s expert on food and wine in Spain, has just sent me notification about the forthcoming national revolt in Spain concerning the smoking ban in Spain imposed on the 2nd January 2011. This is one fierce and bitter controversy that is clearly set to continue in Spain.
However, what makes Andrew Linn’s very forceful reaction to the smoking ban in Spain important - is his point about the ‘nanny’ state and personal liberties. Andrew barely smokes and so his ‘take’ on this law is far more important than that of just a self interested addict. So, the smoking ban demonstration in Spain tomorrow (Friday the 14th January 2011) may have far reaching implications…
Andrew says:
The rebellion against the anti-smoking law is gathering momentum throughout Spain with a smoking ban demonstration in Spain occuring tomorrow.
I took a trip to the (now infamous) Marbella restaurant, Asador Guadalmina, yesterday, expecting it to be bursting with smokers but, amazingly, although it was busy it was no more so that any other bar at the hour of the aperitif, and only one person was smoking! I signed the anti-smoking ban in Spain petition and proceeded to enjoy their famous pintxos. This is a basque tapa that always consists of something on a piece of bread with a ‘banderilla’ stuck through it (the quails egg with red pepper was excellent, as was the smoked halibut with tomato). There was nothing much wrong with the house Rioja either, and the prices are the same as anywhere else.
However, with regard to the smoking ban – in Lugo, two days ago, a bar owner asked someone who complained about a customer smoking to leave the bar! This action was roundly condemned by spokesmen for the nanny state.
Meanwhile, in Gandia the town hall has rushed through a new by-law increasing the amount of pavement that can be taken up by bar tables, clearly to facilitate smoking outside. In Valladolid a bar owner has called for a demonstration against the smoking ban in Spain law – although the local caterers’ association has criticised the move as too hasty.
But the good news is…….
……. using the social networks such as Facebook, demonstrations against the smoking ban in Spain have been called for every Spanish town and village tomorrow, Friday, at 1230 in front of the town hall.
Even the Spanish authorities have admitted that the biggest problem they face with getting this undemocratic law accepted is the sheer hostility spreading like a virus on social networking sites.
So, see you tomorrow in front of your local town hall – even if you are a non-smoker. Personal liberties and human rights are not to be trifled with.
So eat your hearts out you faint-hearted smokers of Britain, Ireland and other well-on-the-way-to-becoming-total-nanny-state countries!!!
Of course, both Andrew and I would be interested to hear what you have to say. Regardless of the smoking issue, have personal liberties been infringed – and is Spain fast becoming a ‘nanny’ state like the rest of Europe? Maybe you think that this would be a good thing?
RELEVANT INFO: See Spanish Food and Wine and smoking ban too drastic by half!
Hi. I have worked in drinks / hospitality trade in UK for 26 years. It is my livelyhood. Despite that, it is absolutely clear that a blanket smoking ban was and is imperative everywhere. It has been complied with in UK because it is right and proper. Businesses have adapted. Contrary to the propaganda – pubs are not closing just ‘because of the smoking ban’. Closures happen due to lack of commercial viability. Stop whingeing. This talk of demonstations by so-called militant smokers in Spain is laughable. On spurious basis of personal liberties and human rights. What a crock. So what about the personal liberties and human rights of non-smokers then?? What about 50,000 deaths from Smoking every year in spain and 3,000 from passive smoking. Human Rights? Smoking in a public place or anywhere in vicinity of a non-smoker (who rightly objects) is ASSAULT.
smoking in bars should be a free choice, bars that allow smoking others that dont, let people have a choice instead of being enforced. Us smokers really do get pished of with you anti smoking brigade and if you think a smoking ban in spain will help tourism think again
Like when uk goverment said millions of none smokers would start going to pubs lol what a joke they closing down like no ones busisness. I hope if they do ever ban it full stop you moaners will enjoy paying the extra that wont be taken from us anymore, ie costs the nhs 2 billion a year to treat smokers thay fail to mention the 6 bill a year thay take in tax.
Untill they make buying and selling of ciggies illegal why shouldent we have somewhere to smoke them in, QUITE simply if a door says this establishment allows smoking and you dont like it GO NEXT DOOR to a place wheres it banned and stop Moaning.
whats next burping in public sneezing can spread germs cars banned because they can run people over
GEt a life and get or our backs
Does anybody else get the sense that smokers are the scapegoat for pollution ?
Perhaps that is why this entire debate is so irrational.
Smoking prevalence is now rising, tobacco consumption is more visible and more normal, and therefore the stated objective of the abolitionists; to denormalise smoking and thereby coerce abstinence, is an unmitigated failure.
Perhaps the green movement has caused widespread guilt which, through psychological transference, manifests itself as inordinate intolerance for just one, relatively minor, form of pollution.
Clearly smoking is not beneficial to ones health but nor is motoring, alcohol, chocolate, fizzy drinks, cheeseburgers, loud music or bungee jumping.
Are puritanism and utilitarianism to define politics in the 21st century ?
Why dont they have an on line petition that people can sign.
I agree with previous person we are doing things every day that is bad for our health. the fumes from cars is just as bad for you. maybe this should be allowed just for essential services
If we lie down for everything we do that isnt an healthy option they will soon be bringing in euthanasia for people over the age of 70 because they wont be able to support healthy old people.
Let people decide for themselves how they want to live, Europe is becoming a dictaorship our ecconomies are all suffering from their rules.
And bars in England are closing down at an alarming rate previously flourishing bars are now dead. unless you live in the more affluent areas. Non smokers are saying how much better things are. but they are not frequent enough visitors to the bars to keep them in bussiness.
GIVE US OUR CHOICES BACK.
In Ireland ZERO tolerance of drunk drivers has had much more of an impact on bars .. I am a non smoker and I have been a publican in the UK for many years .. Bars that have failed due to tighter regulations regarding smoking and driving under the influence were run by people who were incapable of changing their business model to adapt to the new situation .. If we look back in time most bars were called Inns or Taverns denoting that they provided accomodations and food .. In a time before public street lighting many Inns had dormitory accomodation on their premises as it would have been nigh impossible for people to find their way home, especially under the influence .. Bars that have shifted their business model to the Cafe Bar Restaurant are thriving in urban areas and there is a strong argument in rural areas for the provision of reasonable overnight accomodation .. This argument applies worldwide to any business .. If you are not flexible in your thinking and have the ability to see & seize opportunities you will most definitely fail .. In the pub environment today where smoking bans are in operation it is absolutely essential for that premises to have an internal smoking area ie a Beer Garden or terrace where people can enjoy their cigarette etc in like company and not to the annoyance of non smokers .. Many smokers have written here about their rights being infringed .. Any kind of addict will always find a way to justify their addiction .. FACT .. Smoking is more addictive than HEROIN .. I am not lying to you .. This is a fact simply because a heroin addict who decides to quit can avoid contact with heroin but before the smoking ban smokers had great difficulty in giving up as it was nigh impossible to avoid contact with cigarette smoke .. Since the ban on smoking was introduced in Ireland there has been a marked reduction in the number of smokers in Ireland and a massive positive impact on the health of the nation .. There are less chest infections as a result of getting a cold and most importantly the duration of chest infections has been greatly reduced ..
Below is a list of countries that have introduced some form of ban on smoking .. Many more are planning to introduce bans in the near future ..
1 Bans
1.1 Albania
1.2 Andorra
1.3 Argentina
1.4 Armenia
1.5 Australia
1.6 Austria
1.7 Bahrain
1.8 Belgium
1.9 Bermuda
1.10 Bhutan
1.11 Bosnia and Herzegovina
1.12 Brazil
1.13 Bulgaria
1.14 Canada
1.15 Chile
1.16 China
1.16.1 Hong Kong
1.17 Colombia
1.18 Croatia
1.19 Cuba
1.20 Cyprus
1.21 Czech Republic
1.22 Denmark
1.23 Ecuador
1.24 Estonia
1.25 Faroe Islands
1.26 Finland
1.27 France
1.28 Germany
1.29 Greece
1.30 Guatemala
1.31 Guernsey
1.32 Hungary
1.33 Iceland
1.34 India
1.35 Indonesia
1.36 Ireland
1.37 Isle of Man
1.38 Israel
1.39 Italy
1.40 Japan
1.41 Jersey
1.42 Kazakhstan
1.43 Kenya
1.44 Latvia
1.45 Lithuania
1.46 Luxembourg
1.47 Macedonia
1.48 Madagascar
1.49 Malta
1.50 Malaysia
1.51 Mexico
1.52 Monaco
1.53 Montenegro
1.54 Morocco
1.55 Mozambique
1.56 Namibia
1.57 Netherlands
1.58 New Zealand
1.59 Niger
1.60 Nigeria
1.61 Norway
1.62 Palestinian Authority
1.63 Paraguay
1.64 Pakistan
1.65 Peru
1.66 Philippines
1.67 Poland
1.68 Portugal
1.69 Puerto Rico
1.70 Qatar
1.71 Russia
1.72 Saudi Arabia
1.73 Singapore
1.74 Serbia
1.75 Slovenia
1.76 South Africa
1.77 Spain
1.78 Sweden
1.79 Switzerland
1.80 Syria
1.81 Taiwan
1.82 Thailand
1.83 Turkey
1.84 Uganda
1.85 United Arab Emirates
1.86 United Kingdom
1.86.1 England
1.86.2 Northern Ireland
1.86.3 Scotland
1.86.4 Wales
1.87 United Nations
1.88 United States
1.89 Uruguay
1.90 Vatican City
1.91 Vietnam
1.92 Zambia
In response to Jamz Cruz. Yes You have a long list but examine the countires with a TOTAL BAN, PARTIAL BAN or better still, countries who have ammended their bans! Three to start with, Germany, Netherlands & Croatia. Problem with total bans is they destroy hospitality industries. Have you been to the USA, Canada, Oz, NZ, ROI recently? Look at Hawaii and the tourism decline and they quite clearly state that this is due to ‘the smoking ban affect’. Quite acceptable? But what the hell. In England there’s no problem. All rural Pubs & Clubs have been redesignated as Cafe’s!! Great place to eat and take the kids. No place to have a quiet natter and smoke away from the kids anymore!! Remember things like signs outside pubs saying ‘guest beer of the week’ & ‘live music’? No all you get is ‘Great Food’ & ‘Breakfast served all day’. Some pub!! Can anybody name three people who have died from SHS? Do not include Roy Castle who smoked cigars. Worth remebering that there were just over 37,000 lungs cancer deaths in the UK in 2009 (ONS) not 160,000 as promoted by anti-smoking, non-tolerent and paid off government advisors! For goodness sake the UK mortality rate is only half a million.
Please do not let happen in Spain what has happened and continues to happen in the USA and surrounding areas. It all begins with a smoking ban in bars – which is acceptable if the bar has an outdoor area to accommodate its smoking customers. But usually, they do not.
Beware that this is the first foot in the door that leads to discrimination and eventual eradication of privacy, civil liberty, human rights, and the pursuit of happiness. It does not have to lead to this, but once the senseless militant anti-smokers get a sense of power, they cannot seem to control themselves. They have an insatiable appetite to flex their muscles and inflict more pain on those who choose to smoke cigarettes – even in the privacy of their own homes.
Where I work, currently there are 2 designated smoking areas. There is a rumor that the entire grounds will become non-smoking. Some employers even drug test employees for nicotine! Apartments ban renters from smoking. City ordinances ban renters from smoking on balconies. Now there is talk of banning smoking in your own car! A nearby city bans a homeowner from smoking on their own property.
I am tired of spending thousands of dollars on a vacation where I cannot smoke in my room. Why spend thousands of dollars to be in prison?
The worst vacation is Hawaii. All hotel rooms are non-smoking… but the clincher is that Hawaiian law states that it is illegal to smoke on the balcony. Very expensive prison.
I supposedly live in “the land of the free.” I feel like I have NO FREEDOM at all. Sad.