A breath of fresh air

The new legislation governing smoking in public places is tough but fair. It is very tough on those who smoke and who are used to smoking wherever and whenever they want. It is tough on the very many bar, restaurant and wedding hall (among others) owners who, no doubt, fear a drop in trade.

But, and it is a very big but, it is fair on us, the majority, who do not smoke. I don't mind that others choose to smoke. After all the new legislation has not banned or criminalised smoking. However, those who do not smoke should not have to inhale the smoke of those who do. If smokers choose to damage their lungs and clog up their arteries that is their choice. They often shorten their lives too but it is their choice and I am not one of those fundamentalists who believe that my choices must be everyone else's.

Unfortunately, cigarettes do not just damage the health of those who smoke but also of those who have to be near other smokers. So this legislation is tough but is needed.

The legislation really only covers public places but there are still very many other problems, particularly for children who are now passive smokers. One of those very powerful adverts against smoking screen overseas shows little children exhaling smoke like little dragons only because the parents they live with smoke and these little babies are essentially and sadly passive smokers.

This advert is trying to highlight the harm that parents who smoke are doing to the health of little ones.

I am sure the new Children's Commissioner must already have a lot on her plate but health issues will, no doubt, be a priority and Maltese parents are not cruel but only unaware of how bad it is to smoke at home in the presence of their children.

A particular poster features model Christy Turlington and her x-ray showing smoke-free lungs. She may be a well known model abroad but is hardly known here. Thus, I have my doubts as to how effective the poster can be. Why not use Maltese models or singers? They are surely to make a better impact.

Smoking is not yet viewed as anti-social here but it is. Luckily, bars are not my favourite scene but returning home smelling of cigarettes only because I have been out for a drink is a bit too much. Going to a restaurant and having someone having one's after-dinner puff while I am just starting my meal is very unpleasant. And this is before I even think of health issues at all.

This new legislation lays down that if I am in a public place and I choose to smoke I have to pop outside; which is not the end of the world in a country with such a mild climate as ours.

The GRTU - Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprise has wrongly shot down the new smoking regulations. People will not stop going to restaurants or bars or getting married or going to weddings because of this ban!

There was quite a fuss when airlines banned smoking but now such a ban is completely accepted even though people, including hardened smokers, have to spend anything from two to six hours without a smoke.

This new legislation is a breath of fresh air in an otherwise very morally foggy nation.

Most of the smokers I know would like to stop but have not succeeded so far. Most of the smokers I know are fairly respectful of my right not to inhale their smoke. I see many smokers extinguish their cigarette when children are around. So smokers are not a uniformly selfish group.

Smokers are not bad people or social pariahs. But their habit is unhealthy and unpleasant.

I and many others are very glad this government has taken this action even though smokers are not absent from the Cabinet!

Can we please demonstrate the same kind of courage in the case of hunters who flout the law, bad drivers, smelly truck driver owners, developers and others who are so inconsiderate?

This country needs a sense of communal spirit as much as we needed EU membership. But there is need of education and, of course, enforcement.