Because of the serious hazard tobacco smoke poses to allergy sufferers, and non allergy sufferers alike I have decided to add a page on this subject.
The following statement has been reproduced with kind permission from Brian May
**Sun 14 Mar 04**
“SMOKING - THE DAWN OF REALIZATION
I went out my Lady last night, after visiting the Greatest Show In Town – (Rockin’ and a Rollickin’ – packed – heaving with fun and laughter - I still can hardly believe it – another 2,100 enchanted faces) …..
We went to one of the best restaurants in London – we don’t often do this – we tend to eat simple, at home mostly….
But tonight was meant to be a treat … quality time, no distractions….
Well, the food was nice, but the whole evening was wrecked for me because the next table was occupied by smokers. The worst thing about the whole thing was the repressed anger I felt – I couldn’t concentrate on my food or what my partner was saying – out of the corner of my eye I kept watching as they lit up cigarette after cigarette. The lighter was always on the table – they only paused briefly between fags to eat their courses. I counted about 22 between three of them – one was a non-smoker – during the course of our meal. No-one else in the place was smoking – but every time they lit up I was choking with the disgusting fumes.
I asked the waiter if they had a non-smoking area, but they didn’t. There was nowhere to move us to…
Well, I sat there thinking that if I said something to these people I would upset them, make a scene, spoil the evening. And after all, this was NOT a non-smoking restaurant. Surely I would be in the wrong asking them to stop – surely it’s like being a “smoking” coach on the train – if smoke upsets me, I should go in the NON-smoking coach, right??
Well I came home, feeling sick from the smoke, sinuses blocked, eyes, hurting, knowing that my chances of getting cancer of the lung had increased, ANGRY beyond belief that the evening had been ruined, but more than anything else, I realized, ANGRY because I had said nothing !!! Those selfish people had walked out of the restaurant possibly quite unaware that I was so upset… They will do the the same tomorrow to someone else.
Then it dawned on me. This is wrong thinking. Just because a restaurant isn’t Non-Smoking it does NOT mean that it is a SMOKING restaurant. Most restaurants do not say “Getting drunk and Rowdy is not allowed”, or “Farting in people’s faces is not allowed”, or “Shouting and swearing is not allowed”, but if someone did any of these things at a neighbouring table most of us would ask the Restaurant to throw the offending people out. Yet none of the above is life-threatening. It has been proved that breathing other people’s smoke IS. We are even more within our rights here, then, to say – I will not tolerate this.
This is my realization – we are PERFECTLY WITHIN OUR RIGHTS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT SMOKING IN ANY RESTAURANT – these people are endangering our health. I resolve never again to put up with this. I will ask them politely to stop. If they refuse I will ask the restaurant proprietor to ask them to reconsider. If they refuse I will take further action.
WE CAN ALL DO THIS!!!! If we all start refusing to put up with smoke in eating places, the government will HAVE to support our rights in the end. I don’t want to deny anyone the right to smoke in private. But not around me or my family. Let’s go out and make a difference !!!
Cheers
Bri“
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TOBACCO SUBSIDIES TO EUROPE’S FARMERS
European tobacco farmers are currently receiving total annual subsidies of around £650million pounds. Pressure groups including Action against Smoking and Health, (ASH) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, claim that Britain alone contributes £88millon pounds a year of the EU subsidy to tobacco farmers. These growers are mainly based in Greece and Italy. At £5,250 per hectare, tobacco is by far the most heavily subsidised crop of any grown in the EU. Durum wheat is paid at £203 per hectare, whilst the subsidy for growing corn is a mere £100!
It is estimated that around 500,000 people a year, in the European Community, die from smoking related illnesses, yet the EU spends less than £1.34 million on anti- smoking campaigns.
Tobacco farming involves the use of high levels of pesticides and artificial fertilisers, which cause long term soil damage as well as endangering local wildlife. Chemical residues from crop spraying leach into the water supply presenting added dangers to health.
Alistair McCapra, a spokesman for the RSPB, said; “ The subsidy system was originally set up to guarantee a supply of affordable food, it’s absurd that tobacco should have been included in this system at all.”
ASH director Deborah Arnott added; “It is ludicrous to spend £650million aiding an industry which is responsible for so many premature deaths.”
EU ministers met recently to discuss the levels of subsidies to tobacco growers. It will be interesting to hear the outcome.
If you would like to see a (public) smoking ban in the UK click here
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