Tobacco.org

Pubs welcome smoking ban 

If you’re a smoker who enjoys puffing away at the bar, Government’s plan for a blanket ban on smoking in any enclosed public place is probably less than welcome — but bar ownersdon’t share your concern.

Instead pubs, bars and restaurants are broadly supportive of the plan, and believe that smokers’ gloom will not lead to a decrease in profits.

Philip Barnett, spokesman for the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce’s restaurant and bars division, said:

“There are some restaurants and bars whose owners are concerned because they perceive that a lot of their clientele smoke — but that’s why we wanted the ban to be across every premises. If the smokers can’t smoke in any bar [then no business loses out].

“We do see some difficulties but a ban is most important for the health of our staff — it’s probably a good thing,” he said.

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Restaurants, bars back smoking ban proposal 

Bermuda’s restaurants and bars support Government’s proposed ban on smoking in all public spaces, the Chamber of Commerce said yesterday.

Government tabled the Tobacco Products (Public Health) Amendment Act 2005 in the House of Assembly on Friday, which set out to ban all cigarette vending machines, increase the buying age to 18 and impose $250 fines for having a cigarette in bars, restaurants and hotels.

“There has been a general support by the membership but only if the ban was completely across the board,” chairman of the Chamber of Commerce’s Restaurant Division, Philip Barnett said yesterday. “As we understand it, it affects bars, nightclubs and restaurants all the same– similar to other jurisdictions.”

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• Tough anti-smoking bill tabled in House 

Smokers may soon be banned from lighting up in any enclosed public space in Bermuda, be that a bar, restaurant, hotel, workplace, or even a company car.

A proposed blanket ban has moved a step closer and will put Bermuda on to a growing list of of places around the world where no-smoking rules have either come into force or are in the process of being introduced.

Bans on smoking in enclosed public places, aimed at improving public health, already exist in Italy, Ireland and New York.

In new rules outlined in a White Paper that has gone before the House of Assembly, cigarette vending machines are to be outlawed and cigarettes and other tobacco products must not be sold to anyone under the age of 18.

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Cigarette ash blamed for blaze 

Smokers are being warned to be more careful with their ashes after a garbage can caught fire in a St. George's home on Monday night causing minor heat and smoke damage to the property. Fire Sgt. Wenda Godfrey said the Fire Service arrived at a Queen Street home to find a trash can on fire inside one of the rooms. "An occupant of the house discarded cigarette ashes in a trash can and left to go to work," Sgt. Godfrey said.

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Light up and the children suffer 

Doctors yesterday joined the fight to ban smoking in public places.

Dr. John Gaugain, the president of the Bermuda Medical Society, said: “Given all the evidence condemning exposure to second-hand smoke, and given the lead taken from other countries, states and cities, there is an indisputable case to protect those who chose not to smoke from exposure to the dangers of second-hand smoke in enclosed public spaces.” . . .

Bermuda looks to be moving towards a smoke-free environment. The Government is already looking at the effects of tobacco on society. When it gets there it will join Western Australia, South Africa, Norway, Ireland and Bangladesh. England and Scotland are also moving towards a ban. More than 20 per cent of U.S. including California, Montana, New York and Boston have also enforced a ban.

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Govt. takes aim at cigarette smoking 

A new action plan to combat cigarette smoking in Bermuda has been established according to Health Minister Patrice Minors. Announcing the initiative in the House of Assembly Friday, Mrs. Minors revealed the proposals drawn up by civil servants in the Ministry of Health include legislation to ban the sale of tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 as well as restricting smoking in public places such as bars and restaurants.

Pressed on exactly when the proposed legislation would be tabled in the House, Mrs. Minors told The Royal Gazette last night it was her intention that a bill will see the light of day during the current parliamentary session. “According to the Chief Medical Officer, smoking remains the single most preventable cause of premature death on the Island,” she said.

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WELLS: Why Bermuda does not need a public smoking ban 

Last month, Health Minister Patrice Minors revealed plans to restrict smoking in public places such as bars and restaurants. Legislation could be tabled by the end of the year.

An increasing number of jurisdictions, including New York, Ireland and Scotland, are doing the same. Philip Barnett, head of the Chamber of Commerce Restaurant Division, has said that most bar and restaurant owners would support a ban. The UBP is enthusiastic. Public sentiment seems to favour it too. I think it's misguided...

I don't like second-hand smoke. But I don't need the Government to protect me from it. I just need to move tables more often, tell the restaurants that I frequent that I'd prefer it if their establishment was smoke-free, and avoid those places that I find unbearably smoky. It's as simple as that.

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Time to stub out those cigarettes says BANS 

IF you're a smoker, take a piece of paper and write down the reasons why you should smoke and the reasons you shouldn't. People who do that will have taken the first step on the way to quitting, according to BANS (Bermuda Advocates for Non Smoking), organisers of today's Quit Smoking Day. Charles Jeffers, BANS public relations officer, said: "The first thing you should do is not to try and quit, but to try and really, really want to quit. If you're not sure that you want it, there's no way you'll be able to do it. . . .

BANS will be offering information on how to quit smoking at lunchtime today at a table stationed in Washington Mall. Details of the courses available and general advice on the first steps to take will be available.

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Dunkley pushes for smoke ban law 

Despite overwhelming protest in the House of Assembly on Friday night, the Shadow Minister of Health presented a “draft legislation” to prohibit smoking in public places and the sale of tobacco to people under the age of 18. In his motion, Michael Dunkley told the House that smoking and second hand smoke is the number one killer in Bermuda. “Smoking is the major cause of respiratory disease, heart disease, stroke, vascular disease and cancers of the lung, oral cavity, urinary tract and cervix,” he said. . . .

Mr. Dunkley said the Government was continually accusing the Opposition of being political. “Well there are two points I would like to make in connection with that. The first being, yes we are being political after all this is politics and second, being political we do so because we have very little confidence in the ability of this Government in getting things done as their record has shown a pattern of not getting things done! “This being the case we have no confidence in the ability of the PLP to bring encompassing legislation to make the needed changes in the near future,” he said. Mr. Dunkley then presented the draft legislation, adding that he heard murmurs that the drafting chambers were overworked and short staffed.

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Restaurateurs favour total ban on smoking 

RESTAURANT owners would welcome a complete ban on smoking in all public places, said an industry leader yesterday.

Philip Barnett, chairman of the restaurant division of the Chamber of Commerce, said his members were heavily in support of such a ban, as outlined in a bill that has been tabled in the House of Assembly by Shadow Health Minister Michael Dunkley.

"Members of the restaurant division brought it up as an issue and the consensus among members was that, as long as the ban is complete and wide-ranging, like in New York, Toronto, Vancouver or Ireland, they would be supportive of it," Mr. Barnett said.

"There is a significant health risk from second-hand smoke and restaurant owners are cognisant of that."

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'Smoking ban would impact on our freedom of choice' 

THE boss of Bermuda's leading tobacco importer yesterday expressed concerns that a future ban on smoking in public places could impact on the principle of freedom of choice.

But William Pitt, managing director of Pitt & Company, also voiced some support for raising the legal age for buying tobacco from 16 to 18.

He did not dispute that tobacco use could cause health problems, but he urged the Government to note that other products, such as alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, also posed a public health risk.

Mr. Pitt, whose family has been supplying Bermuda residents with tobacco for five generations, was speaking after Shadow Health Minister Michael Dunkley tabled a bill that aims to ban smoking in public places and raise the legal age to purchase cigarettes.

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Govt. plans to curb tobacco promotion 

Acting Health Minister Walter Lister has cited tobacco use as the number one killer in Bermuda. He said that smoking related deaths exceed the combined total of those due to suicide, AIDS, road traffic accidents and homicide.

The announcement came on the heels of concerns made by Shadow Minister Michael Dunkley on the dangers of smoking and Government’s lack of addressing it. Mr. Dunkley called for Government to ban the sale of cigarettes to children under 18.

In a release issued yesterday Mr. Lister, pictured right, said the dangers of cigarette smoking and tobacco use will be addressed with restrictions placed on its sponsorship and promotion.

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Sports bar to go smoke free 

IRISH pub Flanagan’s is transforming its lower bar into a non-smoking sports lounge called Legends. The Front Street pub is believed to be the first in Bermuda to bring in a smoke-free policy. In a radical image change the new Legends bar will not feature loud late night music and will attempt to offer a more laid-back, relaxed atmosphere. Owner Micky Adderley said the renovated sports lounge would open in April. The upstairs bar could soon follow the non-smoking policy depending on the success of Legends.

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Silver Spoon ashcans smoking 

A CUP of coffee, the day’s papers and the mild hit of a calm-inducing cigarette.

Scenes like this, a regular morning routine for many, could soon be a thing of the past in the new health-conscious Bermuda. The traditional ‘greasy spoon’ restaurant with its ash scattered tablecloths and cigarette butts swimming in the bottom of Styrofoam cups, is a thing of the past as more and more cafes opt to outlaw smoking.

The Silver Spoon has become the latest café to follow the worldwide trend - a move that has angered some of its regulars. But owner Allan Hill is keen to shake the restaurant’s image as a talking shop where customers fight their way through clouds of nicotine while people sit and smoke endless cigarettes.

The new policy started on Monday and Mr. Hill claims it is already paying dividends with customers appreciating the smoke-free atmosphere. . . .

Mr. Hill said the no-smoking rule was sure to send some customers elsewhere – but it was bringing in new customers as well. “Times are changing and we are trying to change too. There are people I haven’t seen in years coming back here.”

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Tio Pepe joins smoke-free trend 

Pizza and paella can be enjoyed in smoke-free setting when the Tip Pepe restaurant in Southampton goes smoke free in the new year.

Smokers will have to light up outside if they want to enjoy a cigarette once the ban comes into effect on January 1.

Manager Enrique Maresma said the popular Mediterranean eatery decided to go smoke free after receiving a number of repeat requests from visitors and locals who had given up the habit. Families and children who frequent the restaurant also made requests for a smoke free place to have a meal.

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