Tobacco.org

• EDITORIAL: Ease up on smokers  

Israel has followed the rest of the Western world and decided to declare war on smoking in public places. This is the right step. After the storm in Ireland and now in France since the law took effect on January 1, smoking in public venues ceased in both those smoking countries and many others. In early November an amendment to the law banning smoking in public places in Israel went into effect, significantly increasing fines and expanding the ban to include bars, cafes and restaurants.

It seems that no law has ever been enforced in Israel with such speed and efficiency. An army of municipal inspectors invaded cafes and bars, as did dozens of activists and volunteers acting independently, filing suits in court against smokers. . . .

At the basis of the legislation against smoking in public places is the assumption that smoking in closed areas is a hazard for the customers and employees who do not smoke. The law is there to protect them, and that is a good thing. But when the ban was expanded beyond the closed areas, in places where the air flows freely, one gets the impression that hunting season has been declared on smokers amid an effort to punish them - a quarter of the population. This is unacceptable.

In addition to targeting the smokers, many businesses suffer economic damage. Some legislative initiatives, like that of MK Zvi Hendel, recommend the Spanish model, which calls for a quota of businesses where smoking is permitted. Such businesses will have signs declaring them places for smokers. Another option, more reasonable, is to allow smoking in open spaces. The smokers, however mistaken and damaging to themselves and others, have rights too. One of them is the right to light a cigarette in an open space without causing affront to other people.

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