Wednesday 23 February 2011

Gibraltar: small but smoky

GIBRALTAR (Photo: illustration only, before we get a whole lot of llanito e-mails!) The smoking ban, one of the toughest in Europe came into effect on January 2, 2011. In Spain, but not on the Rock. England, Northern Ireland and Wales got theirs in 2007, Scotland in 2006 and Ireland in 2004. But not Gibraltar. Despite the enclave's closeness to Spain and its affiliation, legally-speaking, with the UK, there is no smoking ban there, nor does there appear to be any Government move toward an all out ban, though studies have been carried out. Nevertheless, Gibraltar is not completely bereft of some protection for non-smokers (or is that 'passive smokers'?).>
There was a ban on smoking in government offices that came into force in 2009, and there are several places where a self-imposed ban is in effect, such as King's Bastion.

There is also an active anti-smoking lobby that has the support of a number of entities, among which are the teachers' union, the Environmental Safety Group and cancer charities, as well as the medical and dental associations. Private bans have also been applied at places like Montagu Gardens, where it is forbidden to smoke at or near the children's playground since 2009, even though this is out of doors.

Yet, while no all-encompassing ban exists, it is up to the owners of bars, restaurants, shops and the like to decide whether they will allow smoking on their premises or not.

(Prospero note: I'm doing fine without smoking since June, thanks. But I have put on quite a bit of weight, as my trousers insist on proving.)

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