An Irish bar with no smoke?
It will be reality from today.
The Irish government is striking hard at the nation's widespread tobacco habit with a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants and at the workplace. A US$3,640 fine if you're caught.
Isn't there a revolt?
Apparently not. Ireland is imposing the most remorseless legislation against tobacco smoking yet seen in the EU and the Irish people appear to be accepting it with great stoicism.
Health Minister Michael Martin was determinedly upbeat: "This important tobacco-free initiative has the support of the majority of people in Ireland, smokers and non-smokers alike," he said.
"I acknowledge that adapting to the new measure will require some adjustment and will not be entirely problem-free. However, I am confident that people will adjust.
"Most people are law-abiding and responsible, and I am confident that the vast majority of employers, employees and the public will respect the new measure."
And indeed the majority appeared quite submissive.
A straw poll among the drinkers of Dublin indicated at least an air of resignation in the face of the inevitable. For the time being anyway.
Andrew, a regular at Searson, one of the bars of Dublin's fashionable nightlife area, took it in his stride: "I had decided to quit anyway."
Most smokers appeared willing to put up with the future prospect of having to step outside their pub for a smoke.
More than 80 percent said yes to the ban in a November opinion poll, including 61 percent of Ireland's many smokers.
But behind the apparent complaisance lurks the hidden belief that the ban won't work.
Incorrigibles confidently predict the lawgivers will not be able to worm their way into every nook and cranny of every village pub of the emerald isle, and that the ancient combination of Guinness and tobacco will be safely preserved.
"There are too many loopholes in the law," said Barry, a young barman in Dublin's Searson bar.
For example, how was the management going to force a customer to throw away a lit cigarette?
Another barman at Donoghue's, one of the great venues for local music, had an idea: "I'll ask my friend," he said grinning, discreetly producing a baseball bat from under the bar.
Landlords have not always been so ready to enforce a law they started off by criticizing heavily.
Fearing a drop in trade, they have several times previously threatened to go to the courts to challenge the legislation.
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