So You Think You Will Be Able To Continue Smoking Outdoors?

On 30 June 2009, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a Council Recommendation on smoke-free environments which states:

"4.......Develop, implement, periodically update and review comprehensive multi-sectoral national tobacco control strategies, plans and programmes which address, inter alia, the issue of protection from tobacco smoke in both public and private settings;"  (my emphais)

"24......an obligation to provide universal protection by ensuring that all indoor public places, all indoor workplaces, all public transport and possibly other (outdoor or quasi-outdoor) public places are free from exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke. No exemptions are justified on the basis of health or law arguments......" (my emphasis)

On 8 July 2009, the European Commission decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee, on a voluntary basis, under Article 262 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the Proposal for a Council Recommendation on smoke-free environments. At its 457th plenary session, held on 4 and 5 November 2009 (meeting of 5 November 2009), the European Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 81 votes, to 68 against and with nine abstentions, amongst which are:

"1.4.1.Reference should be made at the end of the paragraph to‘protection from tobacco smoke in public settings frequented by children and young people’ (open air playgrounds for children, leisure venues, open-air or indoor discos, clubs, bars frequented by children or young people under 18, and other such places)." (my emphasis)

"3.1.1. Research has shown that every cigarette you smoke takes eight minutes off your life "

(On that last point, as an aside, that is eight minutes less of being an EU citizen - result! (Even Hell can't be worse than living in the EU)

Mark my words, the number of 'permissable smoking venues' is about to become somewhat truncated - or might one say 'stubbed out'? One also has to wonder what odds might be obtained from William Hill or Betfair on how long it will be before 'tobacco' is no longer a legal product?


Afterthought: I leave it to others, like Dick Puddlecote, to have a rant at the implications.