The threat from Europe
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 The European Union commission yesterday called for public places throughout Europe to be smoke-free by 2012 in order to tackle the "deadly effects of passive smoking".
According to the press release: ten of the 27 EU countries have comprehensive smoke-free laws. Britain and Ireland have introduced the strictest smoke-free provisions with a complete ban on smoking in enclosed public places, on public transport and in workplaces. A similar ban is due to come into force in Bulgaria next June.
It continues:
The commission, the EU's executive arm, called for laws throughout Europe to ban smoking on enclosed public places, workplaces and public transport within three years. It also called for supporting measures such as protecting children, encouraging efforts to give up tobacco use and pictorial warnings on cigarette packets.
Italy, Malta, Sweden, Latvia, Finland, Slovenia, France and the Netherlands have introduced smoke-free legislation allowing for special enclosed smoking rooms. However, in other EU nations, "citizens and workers are still not fully protected from exposure to tobacco smoke in indoor workplaces and public places," the commission said.
The UK is already well ahead of the rest of Europe (with the exception of Ireland) in terms of anti-tobacco legislation so you could be forgiven for thinking there is little (more) to fear from EU regulations.
I'm not so sure. Although the Daily Express was probably a bit alarmist when it reported that "Smoking outside pubs and offices could be banned under plans to be announced by the European Union" (see HERE) we have to take the threat seriously. It won't happen across Europe by 2012 - as suggested - but the stop smoking brigade has a clear agenda and banning smoking in outdoor public places (with exclusion zones around public buildings) is high on the list of things to be outlawed in the not-too-distant future.
From a UK perspective there's another problem. At present we can point to the majority of member states and say, "Look, European countries have adopted a sensible compromise. Why can't Britain be more like them?" If the EU were to adopt the Irish/UK model that will no longer be the case.
What this latest development does show is the need for a well-organised, well-financed consumers' rights organisation with branches in every EU member state. It's something we've been discussing with colleagues in Belgium, Spain and Holland but our UK commitments have always got in the way. Now, perhaps, its time has come.
Reader Comments (13)
My wife and I now have another reason to vote no in the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. There may be a low turnout in October but I will be exhorting all my friends and family to get out and reject the treaty. I am pro European and believe in greater cooperation with our neighbours but that does not include my life being run from Brussels by some unelected prat.
If anyone asks I will tell them that the EU is trying to ban smoking altogether and I know that an Irish MEP Avril Doyle wants tobacco banned by 2025. Most rightminded people do not want smoking banned but they need to be shown that only a total ban will satisfy lunatics like Ms Doyle.
I thought that neighing horse face Avril Doyle had lost her MEP seat, what a shame she's still braying useles empty comments in Brussels like the rest of the braindead articles over there, instead of earning her very expensive keep there by doing something useful for her country.
My main reason for voting No to the Lisbon treaty was/is the smoking ban and revenge for our eu hugging govt that sold out our sovernity to them.
I think the time has definitely come Simon to have a Pan European consumers rights organisation in every country of europe.
Its time to get started on this right away before the lying EU bullies let loose their brainwashing machine of bribes/coercion/false promises etc on the rest of the gullable of europe, like they did with us.
I would gladly donate.
She retired before she lost the seat to Labour but she still is typical of the sort of morons elected and unelected in Europe.
The arrogant government here thinks a Yes vote is a certainty bit I do not think so. The sort of crap we have to put up daily from Europe is enough to drive many otherwise pro Europeans into the no camp.
It isn't just the EU we are under threat from, read this latest piece of home grown crap.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20090701/thl-call-to-ban-pub-cigarette-machines-d831572.html
Get a load of the figures they have produced. I use the word "produce" in what I can only describe in the lavatorial way.
Surprise, surprise the poll was by YouGov owned by Peter Kellner. I would not believe his oath if I had him at the end of a rope and the same goes for his polls. It is easy to pick the people to ask and to load the questions to suit your own or your client's views.
I know what you mean Michael. I just carried out a poll of my own where 98% wanted to repeal the smoking ban, 1% said they only wanted to amend it, and 1% said don't know.
Problem is he is getting away with it and paid good money. The money he is being paid comes from collection tins, sponsored walks, parachute jumps etc. I wonder if people who donate their hard earned money to CRUK in memory of a loved one who has died of cancer realise that there money is being given to Peter Kellner. They should change their name to Cancer Propaganda UK and it appears to me the only research they do is into cigarette vending machines. This will really lead to a cure!
I was recently accosted on the main road while in a taxi at traffic lights by two very attractive young ladies with buckets marked Cancer Research. The driver donated but I refused and explained that CRUK waste their money on administrators and surveys and I would not be giving them anything. After we had driven off the driver said he wished he had not given them anything either. Being a smoker he always gave to cancer research but did not know they wasted it.
I seem to remember some suggestion that the great and the good at the recent London summit were granted a smoking room. Did this actually happen? Does anyone know?
To take up your point about so called charities Michael and as I mentioned in a previous post, I gave up giving money to charities about 3 years ago for that very same reason, because you dont know where that money is going.
When I read an investigative article about the street chuggers and the aid workers in Africa getting govt jobs by giving a few years of their time to these outfits. Seemingly its just a stepping stone to getting cushy jobs in quangos and in govt.
As for the cancer research 'charity' caper I copped on to that one since the smoking ban and their connection to ASH.
Its a case of dont get mad, get even!
"I seem to remember some suggestion that the great and the good at the recent London summit were granted a smoking room. Did this actually happen? Does anyone know?"
I think the guilt is in the silence. When it was first being mooted following something in one of the tabloids, Sun? Mirror? It was taken up by F2C, a couple of MPs and ASH. Suddenly, MPs and ASH went totally silent. The word 'directive' comes to mind. They were told to shut up about it.
On the subject of the Lisbon Treaty, I have a question. At the moment the EU give directives and various countries decide whether it is for them and how they will apply it - eg the banning of smoking in public places.
Under the Lisbon Treaty, will the EU have the power to legislate so that all EU countries have to do what they are told?
You can bet your bottom dollar that they will Timbone.
That is the whole point of this deadly treaty to have the united states of europe and the feds and other agencies are just waiting in the wings for Ireland to put their X on the yes box.
I'm saying novenas that Ireland will hang on to their courage like they did the last time and give just as a resounding NO for the rerun in October.
Any party that wants to belong to the Eu loses my vote i am sick to death of being told what to do by a bunch of over paid know alls. I smoke i like a smoke and i really feel its not the governments choice whether i smoke or not and certainly not europes decision. I hope we pull out of europe the sooner the better. If everyone just stuck two fingers up to the smoking ban this poxy government couldnt do a thing about it. They cannot catch everyone. I absolutley hate labour i hate everything they stand for and once they are knocked out i hope they never return to office. They have got us into two wars they have gone back on their manifesto pledge about our EU referendum because they know they wont win. They have brought in this smoking ban that has put lots out of work all because we have a load of F...... know alls trying to rule the world. If there is an election soon remember what this government has done whther it be a smoking ban or another reason vote the B....... out.