Tobacco smoke belongs to bar life

Katarzyna Kolenda-Zaleska argues in the daily Polska against a planned law which would ban smoking in Polish bars and restaurants: "I already have enough of a hard time admitting that I smoke. Sure, I know all about the dangerous consequences of this unhealthy habit. And I also know that cigarettes hugely offend that part of our society not addicted to tobacco. I must also say that I too cannot imagine smoking in the presence of a child or in the bedroom. Nevertheless I can't help thinking that the Health Commission is going a little too far. In England and Ireland people are not allowed to smoke in pubs or restaurants, and the same is planned for Poland. But have pubs not been associated with the smell of tobacco and the taste of alcohol since time immemorial? Let's not forget, each and every one of us has the right to freedom. And I can't imagine that anyone should be able to restrict me in this way - by banning smoking just about everywhere and in so doing strictly delimiting my private sphere."

» full article (external link, Polish)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Health Policy, » Poland
All available articles from » Katarzyna Kolenda-Zaleska

» To the complete press review of Thursday, April 23, 2009