subcon

i'm curious as to how well the recently enacted ban on smoking in italian cafes and restaurants is working. frankly, i suspect it will be roundly ignored by smokers, proprietors and enforcement.

personally, i don't smoke during meals and if i can make it nine hours on an overseas flight, i can make it thru a three hour meal. but i just don't see the italians, who smoke furiously and ubiquitously, warming much to this new law.

SloJan

It's having an impact. We had a restauranteur mention it to us and he was happy about it (In Trieste). In Udine, I didn't notice any smokers in the restaurants. Still, it will take a while.
Cheers,
Jan

caroline_edinburgh

I seem to remember hearing a news item about a bar owner being stabbed to death in a row over smoking

sallyjane3

Was in Venice for Christmas. There's a smoking ban?? News hasn't drifted to Venice!

nonnafelice

It didn't go into effect until the new year, so you wouldn't have seen any change at Christmas.

Kate

Was in Puglia a couple of weeks ago. No one was smoking in bars and restaurants. The bar staff had to stand in the rain to smoke with me.

bob_brown

You know, the denial of addiction is a powerful urge. I actually had an Italian acqaintance of mine, whose father died of lung cancer, tell me that cigarette smoking did not harm Italians because they were so tough and healthy.

Then he had a massive heart attack and made it through only because he was near a first rate hospital with a great cardiac ICU. When the doctor told him he had to quit smoking a take off weight, the guy told him to shut up.
My friend is 5-9 and weighs 250.

Michael

In contrast to Sallyjane, we found Venice to be mostly smoke free, with the regulars of a small bar standing outside in the drizzle to have their smoke. Look for a cigarette tied in a knot as the no smoking sign.

subcon

ttt

i needed to restart this thread. we're leaving in three weeks.

Kate

subcon, there's no need to restart this thread - the ban is being enforced, that's the simple answer. You'll just have to stand outside with me and the bar staff!

Intrepid1

Eventually, everyone stops smoking. It is unfortunate that you don't want to, Subcon, but that's life I guess.

Rchristine

I am not a smoker but am interested to hear that Ontario is not the only place that it is banned.I will be in Rome the first two weeks of October.
By the way,it was through this Travel Talk that I heard about staying in Convents and have booked myself a room in one! RUTH

massagediva

There is no smoking in Italian restaurants and bars,it's working.The outside eating areas are now de facto smoking sections.