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from the all-those-in-favour,-please-cough dept.
Austria has one of the highest rates of smoking and youth smoking among high income countries, and that might not be changing anytime soon:
Many Western countries have banned smoking in bars and restaurants, but Austria is bucking that trend. Under a law passed in 2015, Austria was due to bring in a total ban this May, but now its new government of the conservatives and the far-right Freedom Party have scrapped the plans.
The move was spearheaded by the leader of the Freedom Party, Austria's Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache, himself a smoker, who told parliament last month that it was about freedom of choice. He said restaurants should be free to decide if they want to have smoking sections, where "a citizen has the possibility to decide perhaps to enjoy a cigarette or a pipe or a cigar with their coffee".
The move has horrified Austria's medical establishment. Dr Manfred Neuberger, professor emeritus at the Medical University of Vienna, says it is "a public health disaster".
"The decision is irresponsible. It was a victory for the tobacco industry. The new government made Austria into the ashtray of Europe."
Meanwhile, the country is considering buying more jet fighters, recruiting more police, defunding its public broadcaster, and examining its past.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Mykl on Friday February 16 2018, @05:38AM (3 children)
Exactly!
I hate that the gubmint has to force restaurants to use actual beef instead of horse-flesh, not use MSG if they advertise as "MSG Free", keep the kitchen roach free, etc. Caveat Emptor right? Let the market decide!
(Score: 3, Insightful) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday February 16 2018, @02:08PM (2 children)
Poor examples. There is no consumer deception in allowing smoking in a business. Everyone in the world knows that smoking isn't healthy for you. You're talking about taking away their choice to do as they please when they know the risks not about protecting them from shady practices. Which is treating grown men and women like children.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by Mykl on Sunday February 18 2018, @11:25PM (1 child)
When booking dinner there, I won't know whether I'm going to be overcome with cigarette smoke or not. I also don't know whether my requested seat in the 'non smoking' section will in fact be right next to the 'smoking' section.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Monday February 19 2018, @03:05AM
Yes, you in fact will if you can be arsed to ask if you're booking over the phone or see the notice that it is a smoking facility on the webpage.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.