If only people would get so vocal about drunkeness, wife abuse and recreational drug use, the world would be a much better place.

Hi Elvira! AMEN to that statement.

No smoking areas are few and far between

WOW!<BR><BR>This is getting a little ridiculous.<BR><BR>A few things:<BR>1) To those who dislike paying for the health costs of smokers, several studies have shown that smokers actually save money in the long run. How, you ask? First, they die sooner -- this means less money spent paying for smokers' pensions; second, non-smokers don't die cheap deaths either -- they generally need just as much treatment when terminally ill too. When you add it all up, a non-smoker is likely to cost more.<BR>2) Blaming smokers for high insurance rates in the US seems to really miss the point. Why not blame a health care system that exists only to make a profit? The US is still the only industrialized nation that insists that a person have a right to a lawyer when they're in trouble with the law, but no right to a doctor when they become sick. Perhaps your medical insurance would be a little cheaper if it weren't for-profit blood money.<BR>3) The skyrocketing incidence of childhood asthma has less to do with smoking (which has been dramatically decreasing) and more to do with pollution (which has been on a neverending upward spiral). Perhaps using public transit more, and your Ford, Chrysler, or GM car a little less might be an adequate solution.<BR><BR>Love you all,<BR><BR>Rob

I don't care about smokers health or the strain they put on the insurance company. I just don't want to stink because they are around me. Most people<BR>shower before they go out so they can feel fresh. Boy, there's nothing like laying down next to my wife after a night out and having her smell like an ashtray. Please don't use the stupid fatty food eaters argument. If I eat a cheeseburger, smokers won't go home smelling like a cheeseburger. I go out of my way to embarrass smokers and I think everyone should.

occasionally while on vacation in europe 9i will smoke a good havana cigar outdoors after dinner. the only people to harass me ever were americans. if youo dont like the smell do not walk 3 steps behind me and complain. i have my rights also and will exercise them.

So I guess I can walk up to you and pass gas in your face? I've got rights too.

Yes, yes, yes, Europe is light years behind the blessed, know all Americans. And yes, smoking is a terrible habit. However, let's just take a look for a second at the percentage of heart attack, cancer, heart disease etc. etc. etc. of Europeans compared to us healthy Americans. Hmmm. quite a bit less? How's about putting down that big mac, taking the stairs instead of the elevator once in a while, enjoying a glass of wine and getting out of the car and walking a bit. You may just feel a bit better and learn to not be so self important.

I'm SO GLAD you can pass gas on demand!!!!!!!!!!!<BR><BR>Like someone said , get a life..Europeans have been living with smoke and dying at a slower rate than Americans...so what does that tell you? It tells me that the stress of obsessing is more damaging than the smoke!!

I completely agree. The wrong mind set, being pushy, stressed or demanding is likely damaging a body more than cigarette, pipe or cigar smoke, first or second hand. Have ever heard of neurohormones?

I and most other smokers couldn't care less about your health. We just don't want to stink like you do.

I think you mean "non-smokers" Steve, and concerning the smell: one of the communications problems is that smokers can't smell it---you can't smell something that's on you all the time. So that clinging, pervasive stale-smoke stench is non-existant, or even pleasant, to them, and they don't believe it exists---non-smokers are making it up to insult and harass them. Isn't it also true that someone whose house is pervaded by garlicky, doggy, cat-litterbox, or dirty diaper odors can't smell it either. Once you are removed from such odors for a while, then once again you become sensitive to them, even super-sensitive in the case of some ex-smokers.

Most land tours in Europe via bus will not allow smoking. We took a GoAhead tour that went from London to Rome with several countries in between and nobody was allowed to smoke on the bus--no matter what country we were visiting.<BR><BR> We ate at a pub in Cheltenham England which had a no smoking section.<BR>

IMO we have big, fat discusting men and women roaming our cities and I find that as offensive as smokers. Seems Europeans are far behind Americans as far as smoking goes but at lease most eat right and get exercise thru their lifestyle. If you stay out of the bars and the smoking cars on trains, your life shouldn't be too compromised by "them".

Just got back from Germany and the Netherlands. <BR><BR>I booked almost all chain hotels to ensure nonsmoking rooms, choosing comfort over atmosphere. Even so, one room with a nonsmoking sign on the door had an ashtray in the room--go figure.<BR><BR>Trains are mostly nonsmoking--only got stuck in smoking once, but the hour+ started me toward a sinus infection that I'm just now getting over. Train stations in both countries were solid smoke--we stood outside in the snow instead. Local bus was nonsmoking.<BR><BR>We had no luck finding nonsmoking sections in restaurants. We tried sitting as far away from others as possible, but more people smoked than not, so we often ended up surrounded by the end of our meal. A couple of times we walked in and back out--just too overwhelming, and looked until we found a relatively empty restaurant. Almost daily we bought a snack at a Christmas market and ate outdoors standing up--no outdoor cafes and picnics because of the weather. <BR><BR>There is a website that I believe I saw on this forum before that lists nonsmoking hotels and restaurants in various European countries. You may want to make a search.

Well, since you're scolding rude people, why does Laura get off without a lecture?

Oops, you're right, Steve. Laura, stop putting down fat people. Shame.<BR><BR>(Who do you suppose this Bobo is, or should I just not ask...?)

Two words never used together in a sentence in Europe:<BR><BR>smoking and policy.

Michelle: YOU are RIGHT ON!! E-mail your congressmen and those in all states!! Joe: I'm glad I don't live next door to you!!<BR>I hope to enjoy a trip to Scandinavia in 1 year!! My roots are there!<BR>Asthma is a disease that I got in adulthood from having a father who smoked 3 packs a day when I was young. I have never taken 1 puff from a cigarette or any other nicotine product. Still my lungs are very damaged and my activities are limited from my Dad's smoking. Smoke causes an airway reaction in any one with asthma that is painful, dangerous and difficult to control. Our brains get affected by the lact of oxygen during attacks caused by smokers. The costs of my control medications could bring me on European trips every year of my life! I will probably lose my life at an earlier age due to smokers, diesel fumes, perfume on others and pets! So, thank you for NOT smoking!!

Eastern Europe is a smoker's paradise! People smoke everywhere, even in elevators! And cigarettes are extremely cheap. Even the American brands.<BR><BR>Here's Western Europe's idea of smoking policy:<BR>If you ask for a non-smoking table, they just remove the ashtray for the table. Somebody asks for smoking, they put the ashtray back on the table! As simple as that.<BR><BR>