Did I hear right, that in the future there is to be a ban on soking in Irish pubs as well as other places of work? My memory of pubs includes a heavy smoke haze, along with my pint of Guiness, but I certainly wouldn't object to getting rid of the smoke. I hear it is a health dept. concern about effects of second hand smoke.<BR>Ozarksbill

Please correct that to &quot;smoking&quot; not &quot;soking&quot; whatever that might be.

My brother-in-law was just here on a visit from Ireland and we talked breifly about this subject. He said that smoking in public buildings is no more and that resaurants must have serperate smoking and non-smoking areas. There is talk about banning smoking in pubs but that is having great opposition so I don't think it has gone through just yet.<BR><BR>I found this article in the Irish Times from Jan 30, 2003 so it just may be coming...<BR><BR>http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/front/2003/0130/893533183HM1SMOKING.html<BR><BR>I wouldn't mind it happening myself but coming from Southern CA I'm a bit prejudiced...<BR><BR>wendy

Does anyone have the date this ban starts? All I can find is a vague Februaury and I am going to Ireland next month and have to decide if I can smoke or not.

Originally, the pub ban was to go into effect this month, but there have been challenges and it's been delayed. The most recent news I had was 'the end of February'. (Still pretty vague, I'm afraid.)

There's been lots of opposition by pub owners, with some saying that they'll refuse to enforce the ban. My guess is that pubs in tourist areas will enforce it, but I suspect that a lot of Ireland's tiny, rural pubs will remain as smokey as ever.

That would be so hard to believe. I do not smoke, but it usually does not bother me for little snippets of time. I lived in Scotland for a period and all my friends smoked and they would be beside themsevles if smoking was banned there.
A new world...

It is true that Ireland is/was planning to ban smoking in pubs. However, the plan might have hit a snag. Acc to a friend in Dublin, the Health Minister did not follow proper procedures in informing the EU. There is talk there they he might be brought up on charges and the hope (by some) then is that will end the ban decree. It was originally suppose to be Jan. 1 but the date has been pushed to March now but still tentative. Stay tuned I guess....

I just got back from Scotland and all but one of my friends and family would love a ban on smoking similar to the one we have in California. I noticed that far fewer people in Edinburgh smoke now than even a few years ago.

Sorry, Ozarksbill, across the water from your question!

It's still due to go ahead although we haven't been given an exact date.It was due to start on the 2nd January but the Health Minister had to inform the EU 3 months before the ban can come into place.He only submitted the proposal in December, hence the delay. There's a lot of opposition from the Hospitality Trade and with the news that a pub in New York was granted an exemption from this rule when it was shown that the pub owner had lost a huge percentage of his trade as a result of the no-smoking ban, this opposition has intensified. Have to wait and see!

Gosh, I wish I knew for sure. I'll be there first week in March, and hate to say it, but I love to smoke when I drink alcohol!! Otherwise I don't smoke. If anyone knows whether this will be enforced first week in March, please post--it will make both of us happy campers (I know, I know, it's socially taboo, but I'm old!!).

I'll be there the last week in May. I enjoy drinking my Guinness without cigarette smoke blowing in my face.

We were at Niagara-on-the-Lake last June, and they just instituted the &quot;no smoking&quot; rule. It certainly was a pleasure leaving the pub without smelling smokey.

I find that I don't care how I smell when I'm drinking Guinness.

They haven't brought it in here yet. Regarding the person going to Ireland in March, i wouldn't be worrying about not being able to smoke in pubs. They are saying they will being it in in May now.

When i was in New York and had to go outside to smoke a cigarette i hated it. There was only one bar there that was enfourcing it (i was in Queens), so I promptly found four other's that i spend the rest of the time in and could smoke!

My local pub over here are saying that they aren't going to be telling people to put out cigarettes. Not sure what happens then when it is illegal.

Eventually everyone retires and everyone stops smoking...even in Ireland and Scotland. Being &quot;beside themselves&quot; is the least of our worries.

Thanks, Slightly Demented. I'm the one going first week in March--I appreciate that information.

Have a great time over here