'No smoking' and transparent restaurants

As regular readers know, one of our lists is of "No smoking and transparent restaurants". I received the following encouraging message which I must feature, although, having featured the list last Sunday, I will only feature the letter today and update the list accordingly before I feature it again:

Congratulations on your efforts to promote a smoke-free environment.

We are happy to inform you that the Triton Restaurant at the Preluna Hotel & Towers is a completely 'no smoking' restaurant. We also wish to inform you that the Triton Restaurant and the Argyll Grill Room, both at the Preluna Hotel & Towers, are both 'transparent' restaurants with prominent 'live cooking' kitchens in the restaurants.

Triton open for lunch (12.30-2.30 p.m.) and dinner (6.30-9.30 p.m.)

Argyll open for dinner (6.30-10.30 p.m.)

Our contact details: tel. 2133-4001, fax 2133-7281; e-mail: info@preluna-hotel.com

Website: www.preluna.com (Julian Mompalao de Piro, general manager)

This issue is close to my heart, particularly while bearing in mind that locally many people do not respect non-smokers' right to a smoke-free environment - a right which is respected in civilised countries. We have too many people who light up in your face without asking the question civilised people ask in civilised countries - "Do you mind if I smoke?" In no uncertain terms it is sheer, unadulterated arrogance born out of ignorance.

These people wrongly assume that they can smoke anywhere and blatantly ignore polite "no smoking" notices. Of course, they do have a right to smoke or, rather, to puff their health away but they most certainly do not have the right to rope non-smokers in with them.

Regarding the restaurants, last week my wife and I sampled one of the "no smoking" restaurants on our list - Stazzjon Restaurant of Mtarfa Road, Rabat. The food was nice and so was the service. There was a fireplace but we found it rather chilly. I told a member of the family who own and manage the restaurant and suggested that they put some more wood. However he told me that, on occasions when they did put more wood in, people complained that it was too hot. Well, we found it cold and there was a couple who kept their coat on. I wonder, could it be that non-smokers are too prudent?