EP supports EU-wide public smoking ban
Wednesday, October 24, 2007 
STOP PRESS - the European Parliament today called for wide-ranging measures to restrict smoking in public places. A report by Karl-Heinz Florenz (EPP-ED, DE) was adopted with 561 votes in favour 63 against and 36 abstentions.
The EP says that 650,000 people a year die from smoking, including 80,000 from passive smoking. It also claims that while 70 per cent of Europeans are non-smokers, 86 per cent are in favour of a ban on smoking at work, 84 per cent in other public places, 61 per cent in bars and pubs and 77 per cent in restaurants.
DeHavilland, which provides Forest with political information, adds that:
MEPs want the Commission to designate environmental tobacco smoke a class 1 carcinogen and recommend that - within two years - member states impose smoking bans in all enclosed workplaces, including catering establishments, as well as in all enclosed public buildings and transport.
MEPs are also asking the Commission to examine measures such as introducing an EU-wide ban on the sale of tobacco products to people under 18 years of age, allowing cigarette machines to be placed only where they are inaccessible to minors, removing tobacco products from self-service displays in retail outlets ,and banning distance sales of tobacco products to young people (eg over the Internet).
The report calls on member states to commit themselves "to reduce smoking among youth by at least 50 per cent by 2025" and for the Commission to consider "an EU-wide high minimum level of taxation of tobacco products".
All pretty predictable. But don't cancel those Europeans holidays just yet. This one could run and run.
Reader Comments (6)
I see the health crimminals have been hard at work promoting the ETS is a deadly dangerous substance scam!
Where do they find their facts and figures? Could we not produce some of our own? Such as:
90% of smokers want the legislation reviewed with a call for a revised manifesto mandate at the next election.
95% of smokers want a partial ban in public places, and private member clubs to be excluded.
98% of smokers demand to see all the scientific evidence and debate.
93% of smokers want to know why the labour party overturned its manifesto pledge for a partial ban.
90% of smokers question the role of the pharma industry in the EU legislation.
100% of smokers want to know why effective air
conditioning and segregated areas have been excluded without full debate, or consultation with the public.
100% of smokers want to know if pub closures are of any interest to the EU and our own MPs..
You missed a trick Beverly. Don't forget the part which says 86% of non-smokers think that smoking bans have gone too far.
Nice one, Blad Tolstoy. Keep it coming.
Bet the other EU countries don't send round the 'SS' like they do here imposing fines and threats! Bet smokers in other EU countries don't get treated as badly as they are treated here generally and by their fellow citizens.
Has anybody asked the EP to name 3 or 4 of the 80.ooo, who they say have died from passive smoking?