Lucky New Yorkers!

This statement was uttered by my nine-year-old grandson Simon when he was reading world briefs in The Times (March 31).

According to the news item, the last day that New Yorkers could smoke in public places was March 28. As from then on, smoking cigarettes and cigars is completely banned, even in bars and restaurants.

Something which still baffles me to date in our country is the fact that although we are so conscious about our health, we know for sure how harmful smoking is and how hard hit are those who, whether they like it or not, have to be passive smokers, almost nothing has been done to prohibit smoking completely from all public places.

It is hard to realise that one cannot enjoy a coffee, lunch or dinner in a public place without having someone at the table near you puffing at a cigarette.

I hope that the recently-founded Health and Safety Authority, which seems to be doing sterling work to protect people from danger at their place of work, will use its power and influence also in this field, and protect non-smokers from this habit.

Let us hope also, that we, non-smokers, do not have to wait long before we can enjoy a smoke-free environment in a public place.