Workplace smoking ban
The government has announced its plan for a smoking ban in workplaces, and there's a reasonable debate on Harry's Place about it.The government's compromise, which is to exempt pubs that don't serve food, is clearly silly, as it is completely at odds with their own rationale for the ban, which is to protect the health of pub staff.
It's obvious (and the government is basically saying) that it is just a short-term political fix, with the idea that once the public are used to and happy with the ban, it will be extended to all pubs.
The enforcement of the ban seems odd. Patricia Hewitt today said that the Police will be empowered to issue on the spot fines. Well we'll see, but surely it would have been better to make it a condition of the licence, and thus the licence holder's responsibility? In fact I'd have thought that must be the case too.
On whether it's a good idea, I am in two minds. That pubs are workplaces is a strong argument, as I support a workplace ban. However the civil liberties argument, which basically is that if adults want to go and smoke indoors with other adults whilst drinking, they should be allowed to, is also persuasive. However there are a host of legal regulations already governing that, for instance what times you can drink.
Indeed rather fascinatingly you will now be able to drink, but not smoke, in a pub between 11am and 11pm, and then smoke, but not drink, between 11pm and 11am.
posted by Matthew @ 10/27/2005 04:45:00 PM
Comments: 0
