Ireland EHOs call for wider smoking bans

Environmental health officers in the Republic of Ireland have called for an immediate ban on smoking in the country's restaurants, as well as during meal times in bars serving food.

They claim that neither the current "no smoking" areas nor the ventilation systems offer sufficient protection to the health of customers and staff.

But the Restaurants Association of Ireland, representing 550 establishments across the country, has described the call for a ban as "over the top".

The association's chief executive, Henry O'Neill, said: "If it were to be implemented, we would be the first country in Europe to outlaw smoking in restaurants. We have to treat customers as adults, who can make up their own minds on whether or not they want to smoke."

Under legislation introduced six years ago, 50% of Irish restaurant dining areas must be reserved for non-smokers. This can be reduced to 25% if ventilation systems approved by local health boards are fitted.

The Environmental Health Officers' Association has questioned the effectiveness of the current restrictions. It said: "Ventilation cannot adequately segregate smokers from non-smokers in the same room space, and gives no safeguard to staff in these mixed areas."

The EHOs' association is also calling for the outlawing of smoking in all pubs in Ireland within four years.

by Anthony Garvey

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 2-8 May 2002