Dutch smokers win partial reprieve

Interesting news from the Netherlands where reports suggest that the ban on smoking will be lifted in small bars that are run and therefore staffed by one-man businesses. According to Radio Netherlands:

Owners of small pubs in the Netherlands have welcomed the lifting of a smoking ban imposed on the hospitality industry in 2008. The partial scrapping of the measure was announced on Tuesday.

The incoming right-wing government is responding to persistent complaints from one-man businesses who argued that the smoking ban was meant to guarantee staff a smoke-free working environment. Since they had no employees, their small pubs didn't need the smoking ban, the owners claimed. The ban will remain in force, however, for pubs, restaurants and the like which are run with personnel.

Secretary Wiel Maessen of the 1250 small pubs' umbrella group KHO said "I lit an extra cigarette when I heard the news." He added that despite his satisfaction on behalf of his members, the fight would not be over until the ban was lifted for the entire sector.

Ton Wurtz, who runs the Dutch smokers’ group Stichting Rokersbelangen and has been working with Wiel Maessen, adds a word of caution, however, pointing out in an email to me that the political situation in the Netherlands remains unsettled and the country could face a new election very soon.

Nevertheless it shows what can be achieved if everyone works together. See Smoking ban on trial in The Hague and Demonstrators gather in The Hague.

Update on Friday, October 1, 2010 by Simon Clark

In February 2006, a few days after MPs voted for a smoking ban in England, Ton and his colleague Dick Engel attended the Forest Awards at the Groucho Club in Soho.

According to our press release:

Forest’s ‘International Award’ went to Dick Engel and Ton Wurtz of the Dutch smokers’ lobby group Stichting Rokersbelangen who flew in from Amsterdam to accept their prize.

Other award winners that year included David Hockney, inventor Trevor Baylis, Philip Davies MP, the Institute of Ideas’ Claire Fox, artist Maggi Hambling, and the then Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt:

In the face of fierce competition, said Forest, ‘Killjoy of the Year’ was won by Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt. “Thanks to Nanny Hewitt," said director Simon Clark, "not only will it be a crime to smoke in any indoor public place, but if we wanted to set up a private club run by smokers for smokers, that would illegal too! So much for civil liberties.”

Jeremy Clarkson, it may interest you to know, was declared 'Rat of the Year' "for supporting a ban on smoking in all public places because it will allegedly help him give up". The award, Forest announced, had been made with some regret because Clarkson had previously been something of a hero. “Unfortunately, the rat has left the sinking ship.”

Last night at the New Drovers

Hat-tip to Jon Tregenna who runs the David Garland Jones comedy drama channel on YouTube which I wrote about last month. Jon now writes to draw my attention to his new video and explain how it came about:

Until last month I ran a bar for an old pal of mine, but his ill-health has sadly meant that the pub has had to close.

After hours people could light up - to hell with the ban! However, like every other pub that had a smoking clientele we struggled pre-11 o'clock.

The song is by my band, The Mams, and the lyric was written about the pub:

"Lock the door and we can have a little smoke, yeah
Like it's still the good old days ..."

These places and these times are fast disappearing in this controlled and sanitized fun-free world.

Shame ...

You can watch the video HERE or click on the image above.

Countdown to Bangalore

Popped into Thomas Cook yesterday to order some currency. "Do you have rupees?" I asked. "Russian or Indian?" replied the assistant.

How smokers can help the economy

Yesterday I was invited to provide a comment for a curious article on the BBC News website. Entitled 'How to spend to mend the economy' it asks, "Where would those ready to fulfil their patriotic duty be best advised to splash their cash?". I said:

"During the recession you can indulge in one or two so-called vices like smoking and drinking in certain knowledge you will be raising money for the public purse and enjoying yourself at the same time."

Concerned, no doubt, that readers might be tempted to take my advice, the article suddenly becomes a little darker:

Some go further, suggesting smokers do the country a favour by dying early and not drawing a pension - helping ease the demographic timebomb of an increasingly ageing population. Others, however, point out that the cost of treating smoking and alcohol-related diseases amounts to billions of pounds.

Eh?

Full article HERE.

Smokers "too much trouble" - that report in full

I am mortified to find that I am in newspapers today appearing to suggest that smokers are "too much trouble" to employ. I didn't say that at all but this is what happens when you have a slightly unguarded conversation with a journalist who is desperate for a "story".

It happened like this. I received a call on Tuesday evening from a news agency reporter. He was miffed, I think, that he had missed the story about Breckland Council wanting workers to clock out to have a smoke break because it was on his patch. Instead, the story had been picked up by another news agency and had become national news.

He felt, I think, that his judgement had been questioned and the conversation began with us agreeing that this wasn't a "new" story because Breckland isn't the first council to introduce such a policy. Indeed, Breckland is positively liberal compared to some employers where they have banned smoking breaks altogether.

I expressed concern that the next step might be for more employers to ban smoking during office hours or, worse, not employ smokers at all. I may have said that some employers might consider smokers to be "too much trouble" but I don't remember using that phrase, or the word "complicated" to describe smokers' lives at work. In fact, I see it quite differently.

As I have said in interviews several times this week, I have employed smokers myself and their habit has never been a problem (apart from the 300 days a year they take off work - JOKE). It's some of their other habits that I found a bit offensive!!

The Daily Mail has the story online HERE - 137 comments to date.

Location, location, location

Over the last few days I have broadcast to all parts of the nation from a variety of locations. Many of the interviews were conducted in a small soundproof studio but I also recorded interviews in other places including the newsroom and outside the building.

When I wasn't at the BBC studios in Cambridge I was either filmed in the street or I was interviewed by phone in my office or, if it was late at night, in my bedroom and even my kitchen.

Last night I did two interviews sitting in my car. The first time I was in a car park, the second time I was outside a church hall where my daughter was having a dance lesson.

The first interview was with a radio station in Ireland. My mobile phone needed recharging so I had to plug it into the electric socket and keep the engine running, which created a bit of background noise. On top of that there was a technical glitch (which sometimes happens) that resulted in my voice coming back at me with a 2-3 second delay. This means that when you are talking you can hear your own voice speaking, quite loudly, in your ear but you just have to press on.

The second interview was for the Iain Dale Show on LBC. This time the rain was making so much noise on the roof of my car that I could hardly hear myself, let alone Iain, speak. So I did the only thing I could - I kept on talking!

Update on Thursday, September 30, 2010 by Simon Clark

Tim Lord, former chief executive of the Tobacco Manufacturers Association, was fond of telling the story of how he once gave an interview to the Scotsman while he was stark naked on the balcony of his Mediterranean retreat.

I can't compete with that (I don't think I want to) but I've certainly done interviews in various states of undress. I suspect this is quite normal. So when you're listening to Five Live or the Today programme don't assume that all the interviewees are suited and booted and sitting in a studio. They are more likely to be semi-naked, buttering the toast or walking the dog.

PS. I once did an interview for BBC Radio while I was on a packed commuter train into London. I was speaking into my phone when a fellow passenger rose to his feet, strode over to me and barked, live on air, "Can't you keep your voice down?!"

Update on Thursday, September 30, 2010 by Simon Clark

Now I'm on the subject, I've been thinking about my favourite location for an interview. I think it has to be Cat Bells overlooking Derwentwater in the Lake District. I was on holiday when the call came. The sun was shining so I sat down on the side of the hill and did the interview with the most glorious panorama in front of me. I remember thinking, "I quite like this job!"

The furthest I've had to travel domestically, just for an interview, is Plymouth. It was an eight-hour round trip by rail for a ten-minute appearance on a regional magazine programme. The upside was, I got to see a bit of the country and the programme was recorded in a pub so I got to drink and talk at the same time.

Internationally, the furthest I've been asked to travel for an interview is Dublin (so not very far at all!). In 2004 I was invited to appear on Richard Littlejohn's Sky News programme which was broadcast, as a one-off, from the famous Shelbourne Hotel. I flew over and got, oh, 20 seconds live on air. The good news is, I stayed overnight and made a weekend of it. Thanks, Sky!

Forest Eireann on Newstalk Radio

I have just been listening to a very good interview with John Mallon (left), spokesman for Forest Eireann. John was speaking yesterday on Newstalk, the largest independent radio station in Ireland. Click HERE. You can also comment on the Forest Eireann blog.

Update on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 by Simon Clark

I was on Newstalk myself this afternoon speaking to George Hook, presenter of the news and current affairs programme The Right Hook.

Seven days to Bangalore

Good news. My visa arrived yesterday by Special Delivery and last night I booked my flight to Bangalore for the Global Tobacco Network Forum. In exactly one week I shall be in India, staying at the Royal Gardenia Hotel. (No athletes' village for us!!)

Mind you, it's going to be interesting catching a flight from Heathrow when twelve hours earlier I shall be in Birmingham, winding down after our Save The Great British Pub Party at the Conservative party conference, but catch it I will.

Five Live (late) last night

Click HERE to hear the item about smoking breaks with Tony Livesey on Five Live last night. It starts around 2:12:00 (12.45am) and lasts for eight minutes. Also features Andy Hull, chairman of SmokeFree Liverpool.

On BBC Radio Lincolnshire (Peter Levy Show) I found myself up against a rather creepy sounding Martin Dockrell of ASH. Click HERE. The 10-minute item starts about 15 minutes in and towards the end includes a minor exchange of insults about funding (or, in the case of ASH, public funding).

Update on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 by Simon Clark

Breaking news ... The BBC reports that Breckland councillors back smoke break ban. Rather misleading headline, actually. The council hasn't banned smoking breaks but councillors have voted to make workers clock off when they want a cigarette. I will be doing interviews for Anglia News (ITV) and Look East (BBC1) this afternoon.

Smoking at work? Give me a break!

Busy day. Having been quoted in the Daily Mail, I found myself doing a string of interviews about Breckland Council's plan to force smokers to clock off when they nip outside for a cigarette.

So far I have given interviews to BBC Radio Suffolk, Norfolk, Newcastle, Leeds, Leicester, Cambridge, Cornwall, Shropshire, Hereford and Worcester, Lincoln and Humberside, Three Counties, WM (West Midlands), Sheffield and Radio Foyle (in Derry). I also did five minutes on TalkSport. Many of these interviews were recorded for broadcast on this evening's drive time programmes.

I missed doing Five Live this morning because I was driving to the BBC studios in Cambridge (David Bowden from the Institute of Ideas did it instead) but here's a selection of newspapers that ran the story today with a quote from Forest: Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mirror, Sun.

The BBC has the story online HERE. It includes last night's Look East report in which I made a brief appearance.

Update: I shall be doing TalkSport again tonight. And Five Live after midnight. Damn, I was hoping to have a few drinks tonight!!

New blog on the block

Something is stirring in Ireland .... Following the launch of Forest Eireann in August, the author of the award-winning Irish blog Head Rambles has started a new blog dedicated exclusively to tobacco. Richard O'Connor (whose original blog was published as a book in 2009), has named the new blog Smoking Out The Truth and the first post reads as follows.

For years now I have been scribbling away over on Head Rambles.

My topics have been many and varied.

One thing I have noticed though is that the topic of smoking is a recurring theme, to the point that some were complaining. Fair enough, I thought. Maybe I should do a Good Bank/Bad Bank split. Why not create a site that is dedicated to the one subject and leave the other site for more mundane matters?

So here it is.

In time I hope to gather facts and figures together in a small attempt to refute the lies, damned lies and total bullshit put out by the anti-smoking lobby.

I will leave you to decide whether this is the Good Bank or the Bad Bank.

Warmly recommended.

See also: Head Rambles on Forest Eireann.

Lost in translation

My comments on the BBC website concerning Wayne Rooney's smoking habit and its alleged influence on young people have appeared on a foreign website where they have been translated as follows:

"Research suggests which it is especially counterpart vigour as well as a change of family members which encourages immature people to smoke,” he said.

"The shortcoming for immature people smoking lies essentially with those who supply tobacco to underage users. We should moment down upon them as well as leave people similar to Wayne Rooney alone.

“Rooney as well as alternative high-profile athletes have been adults. They have been entitled to fume though being targeted by a finger-waggers’ alliance.”

I couldn't have put it better myself.

Quote of the day

“I don’t know why I started. It just gives me four or five minutes to collect my thoughts away from everybody I guess.” West Bromwich Albion manager Roberto Di Matteo explains why he started smoking, a habit he began after becoming a manager. (See previous post.)

Tyranny of the majority

I shall be on BBC Look East tonight. A council in Norfolk is proposing to make smokers among its workforce clock in and out when they go out for a cigarette. How petty. Apparently a poll of the workforce showed a majority in favour. What did they expect? The majority don't smoke!

I'll comment further later. I've got to pop over to the BBC's Cambridge studio to do a recorded interview for the local evening news.

Update: The Daily Mail has the story online HERE. Note that it is a Conservative council. I am quoted (accurately!) as follows:

"I have been told that the council carried out a poll of staff to see whether staff supported the new policy. We would expect the majority to be in favour because the majority of people are non smokers. Once again we see the tyranny of the majority.

"It's completely unfair and prejudicial to pick on smokers and imply that they are slackers or take too many breaks.

"There are a lot of non-smokers taking long coffee breaks, browsing non-work internet sites and taking personal calls so I don't see why smokers should be picked on.

"Really what lies behind this is that the council is trying to embarrass people into giving up when in reality it's none of their business."

In defence of Wayne Rooney

On Saturday the health section of the BBC News website ran a piece headlined 'Athletes attacked for smoking habits'. Footballers such as Wayne Rooney and Zinedine Zidane and basketball player Michael Jordan were all mentioned as example of "top athletes" who should be role models for children and, by implication, shouldn't smoke.

I was asked for a comment and this is what I said:

"Research suggests that it is mainly peer pressure and the influence of family members that encourages young people to smoke.

"However the responsibility for young people smoking lies primarily with those who supply tobacco to underage users. We should crack down on them and leave people like Wayne Rooney alone.

"Rooney and other high-profile athletes are adults. They are entitled to smoke without being targeted by the finger-waggers' alliance."

You can read the full report HERE.

H/T The expression "finger-waggers' alliance" was used by journalist Dorothy-Grace Elder, a former member of the Scottish Parliament, when she appeared on Politics Now (ITV Scotland) with The Free Society's Brian Monteith last year (see HERE). I have used it occasionally ever since.

Update on Monday, September 27, 2010 by Simon Clark

Leading the chorus of disapproval about athletes smoking is Cancer Research. But the BBC also quoted Anna Gilmore, professor of public health at the University of Bath, and Amanda Amos, professor of health promotion at the University of Edinburgh.

Have you noticed how more and more universities are jumping on board the anti-smoking bandwagon? A couple of weeks ago the University of Glasgow published a study that suggested - completely erroneously as far as I could tell - that hospital admissions for child asthma had fallen as a result of the smoking ban in Scotland.

All this comes a year after I highlighted a response to a public consultation in Scotland that declared that "The University of Aberdeen believes that the measures proposed to eliminate sale of tobacco product displays and vending machines are both justifiable as are the associated penalties".

What's going on? Could it, perhaps, have something to do with funding rather than academic excellence? Perish the thought!!