Passive smoking worse in winter

Summer is over and therefore a new problem arises for all health-conscious people who visit places of entertainment. Summer offers relief from passive smoking, since entertainment at various spots around the island is also available outside.

From October on, however, the open-air entertainment options are drastically reduced and thus most non-smokers will end up confined in restricted places full of passive smoking.

On a recent Friday night I confirmed, once again, the unbelievable and sickening arrogance and narcissism of smokers. At approximately 11.30 p.m., friends of ours were waiting for us at a supposedly "non-smoking" bar with a live band in Gżira. The place was packed, had poor ventilation and about a fifth of the crowd were illegal smokers keeping the other 80 per cent captive to their toxic fumes. This bar also had illegally parked cars outside, blocking one full lane of traffic to the extent that coaches had to pass by dead slow.

These lawless and selfish individuals are spoiling the evening for the majority who are educated and able to enjoy themselves without the need to smoke in the presence of others.

I am one of those 'party people' who manage to have a great night out without smoke or too much alcohol. The latter is no heroic act either, since nowadays thanks to greater awareness and more education, many try to take care of their health. A smoke-free society is not just about the quantity (longevity) but also, and mainly, about quality of life.

It would not be far-fetched to say that health-conscious people or dedicated athletes are the 'guinea pigs' of today's society when it comes to entertainment-related health hazards. Possibly within 30, 40 or 50 years' time one would be able to sue people who smoke in enclosed public spaces.

It is clear that the root cause of the problem is the lack of enforcement. Progress has been made but lack of enforcement keeps the status quo in place, especially in areas like Paceville. If 150 plainclothes policemen had to be deployed every weekend one could almost guarantee that the number of fines issued would cover their wages and also help reduce the government's deficit.

Enforcement is surely a cost-effective exercise since the revenue generated in one night could easily exceed €1,500 per officer. The government needs to learn how to collect taxes from the right sources and not from hard-working families in dire economic times.