Smoke signals

I would like to suggest a compromise on the controversy regarding the anti-smoking legislation that will be coming into force in April.

To me it seems that the provisions of the legal notice are too extreme and could do with some softening up. On the other hand I respect the right of non-smokers to a smoke-free environment.

I agree with the ban in cinemas and sport venues. However, being a smoker myself, my main concern is the ban on smoking in restaurants, bars and other places of entertainment.

For these places I suggest that the legal notice be amended so that smoking will be allowed by roster in a number of establishments of a particular type by area.

For example, if, say, in Valletta there are 30 restaurants, 90 bars and six discos, then, in one week, smoking would be allowed in 10 restaurants, 30 bars and two discos.

In this way smoking would be allowed in any one establishment for one week every three weeks.

This system should be quite easy to control and would allow everybody, smoker or non-smoker, to entertain him/herself in any establishment they choose.

Of course, any owner is to have the right to opt out of the roster so that smoking would not be allowed in the establishment at any time.

The situation regarding smoking at the work place should also be softened. First of all, it should be mandatory, and not optional, for an employer to provide a smoking area, as described in the legal notice, for employees. Secondly, smoking should be allowed in offices where all the workers are smokers, provided that no smoking is allowed when other persons enter the room.

Legislators should take heed of the fact that smoking is a long standing tradition and that it cannot be stopped abruptly by publishing a legal notice.

Heavy-handedness from the part of the authorities will only lead to dissent and confrontation.