Irish set up smokeless zones in restaurants

Irish Health Boards are attempting a co-operative approach to controlling smoking by restaurant diners in the republic.

Under new regulations, 50% of restaurant space must be allocated to non-smokers. But 70% of Irish diners do not smoke, surveys have revealed.

Individual restaurateurs - fearing customers might leave them - have been reluctant until now to ban smokers.

The Western Health Board's Clean Air Dining campaign in Galway, which offers patrons a clear choice between smoking or non-smoking seating has enrolled 60 restaurants. By early summer this is expected to rise to 100 establishments.

Aideen Higgins of de Burgos's restaurant, Galway, said: "The move towards non-smoking is massive. Smokers like to smoke when they've finished their meal, but don't like other people smoking beside them! Complete non-smoking is going to come within five years."

Scotty Ishmael, of the 70-seat Scotty's Restaurant in Galway, has been smoke-free for two years.

"We have a better-quality customer coming in," said Ishmael. "And a better turnover. We serve fresh foods with displays of muffins and scones. Although they're covered, smoke still permeates into everything. We used to have people sitting and smoking at the tables all day. Now our sales of food have increased."

Clean Air Dining participants display a butterfly logo. The Scotty's sign just says "You are entering a non-smoking restaurant. Enjoy your meal."