Ierland waarschuwt Schotland
Kijk uit voor onverwachte effecten van rookverboden in de horeca, schrijft de Ierse minister van Milieu aan de Schotse deelregering. Het aantal branden thuis, veroorzaakt door het roken, is in Ierland gigantisch toegenomen sinds het rookverbod werd ingevoerd.
Blijkbaar zijn toch meer mensen thuisgebleven om daar hun biertje te drinken en daarbij hun sigaret te kunnen roken, volgens de minister.
Deze constatering sluit naadloos aan bij de gemelde terugloop in cafébezoek in Ierland… Beginnen de Ieren nu ook in te zien dat hun ééndimensionale kijk op roken uiteindelijk heel wat meer facetten kent dan alleen de gezondheid?
An Irish government minister said yesterday that early indications suggested an alarming increase in the number of domestic fire deaths caused by cigarettes since the smoking ban in public places was introduced eight months ago.
The move has apparently persuaded many smokers to stay at home and drink in their own houses rather than go out to pubs.
The Irish government issued a Christmas fire alert yesterday following a number of recent tragedies.
Batt O’Keefe, a junior environment minister, warned the public of the dangers of smoking and drinking alcohol at home.
The minister said he was concerned at the dangers of smoking in the home, particularly when combined with alcohol.
He revealed that initial indications were that the percentage of fire fatalities where the confirmed cause is cigarettes was expected to rise this year and he said he wanted this trend halted as quickly as possible.
The Scottish Licensed Trade Association seized on the Irish situation to urge the Executive to abandon its plans to ban smoking in all public places in Scotland.
A spokesman for the association said: “The latest figures are tragic, but sadly predictable.
