Another Englishman in New York
Monday, March 31, 2008 Five years ago New York banned smoking in public places. Unlike Ireland and the UK, however, the city exempted cigar bars so it is difficult but not impossible to find somewhere to smoke and drink. (See HERE.)
My first and - to date - only visit to NYC was in 2005 and I can vouch for the fact that cigar bars exist because I managed to find one. Trust me when I say that, as a non-smoker, it was a relief to escape the stifling heat outside (it was July) and enjoy the cool, well-ventilated environment of a busy smoking room.
I was only a visitor, however. To find out what it's really like to live in NYC, post smoking ban and other restrictions, read Ken Macmillan's article on The Free Society blog HERE.
Simon Clark
Joe Jackson writes: "[Ken Macmillan's] article certainly struck a chord with me. I lived in NY for many years and left for all the reasons listed here, though I still go back quite often. But believe it or not, London is now even worse. There are eight bars in NY with exemptions from the ban – this is one legal smoking bar per one million inhabitants (!) but it’s still eight more than London. Also, it’s true that a lot of places let you smoke after about 11 or 12 – when most pubs in London are closing. Also the NY ban has loosened up a bit in night clubs: places which enforced the ban strictly a couple of years ago are now turning a blind eye. " Joe's full response is on The Free Society blog HERE (scroll down to Comments).
Simon Clark
Late last night Ken added a comment to his own article. Using his iPhone and accompanied by "a nice scotch and a cigarette in one of the last smoking bars here in NYC", he wrote:
"I visited London recently for business, and aside from my mother’s Sunday roast, I had a truly miserable time there. Not being too familiar with the city during a cold February week, I struggled to find anywhere to spend my dollars. And dined several nights alone in my thankfully smoking permitted hotel room ...
"I had proudly enjoyed my visits to London, especially after the ban here. Now I am reluctant to go back. I have found my friendly smoking havens in New York whereas, aside from a few very nice outside cafés, I am an unwelcome smoking visitor in London now. I will continue enjoying my smokes with a scotch after work, afterall, I smoke for my mental health, and for pleasure, in a world that seldom makes sense."
Reader Comments (1)
The trouble is that even when a minister complains about how unfair, authoritarian and unrepresentative this government is, they still try and avoid the smoking ban and its enormous financial and social damage. See this article by Robert Winnett from to-day's Telegraph (31/3/08):
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/31/nlewis131.xml
Heads in sand or just willing to lie about what is happening because it doesn't suit to mention it or the person complaining - Ivan Lewis - doesn't have the balls to take on our corrupt (in this respect) medical establishment?
Which is it?