OSOYOOS HAD BETTER JUST GRIN AND BEAR SMOKING BAN
OSOYOOS TIMES-April 2, 2008
At the same time this newspaper went to press on March 31, smokers were taking their last puffs in the indoor public spaces of this town.
No doubt there was, and will continue to be, some serious whining about not being able to sit at a table in a climate-controlled room with a beer in one hand and a butt in the other.
It's a natural progression, however, and similar bans have been put into effect in other towns and cities across this country and around the world for decades.
It was only a matter of time before such an anti-smoking wave reached Osoyoos and no amount of lamenting over a perceived loss of personal freedom at not being able to do what you want to do wherever you want will change the reality that the world is going non-smoking.
Think it won't stick?
Ireland adopted the smoking ban in 2004 and, according to the BBC, pub customers are still going outside to light up between pints.
No one thought Nova Scotia would survive anti-smoking legislation put in place in December 2006, but Maritime puffers are still forced to placate their nicotine cravings away from the bars.
Even Beijing has pledged to make its public venues smoke-free by May 1, ahead of the Olympic Games.
There's no turning back now. If there's any slow-down in business at the bars and clubs, it will only be short-term.
Such public places offer more than a place to smoke while you drink. They are centres of socialization and pesky anti-smoking rules won't keep patrons seeking camaraderie and a beer away for long.
Because you can't capture that kind of atmosphere in the few places where smoking is still allowed, such as the street or your house.
So, throw on a coat and take it outside until the weather gets warmer in the next few weeks.
The no-smoking sign is on.
