The tobacco-free day in Norway became the day of the last puff.
Norway became the second European country to completely ban tobacco smoke. On March 29 of this year, a similar law came into force in Ireland. Since then, the air in local pubs has cleared of nicotine and tar, and non-smoking drinkers have been able to breathe freely. The owners of drinking establishments were, to put it mildly, not very pleased with the new law and feared that due to anti-smoking measures, pubs would lose some of their regular clientele. However, everything went relatively smoothly: local authorities calculated that 97% of the country's bars and restaurants strictly comply with the ban (which is not surprising - a lit cigarette in the hall can cost the bar owner €3,000). In addition, the tobacco control authority believes that non-smoking patrons have begun to visit pubs more often. Perhaps this somewhat consoled the owners of Irish pubs.
The Norwegian law almost completely replicates the Irish bans. According to Health Minister Dagfinn Høybråten, the ban is 'a key element of Norwegian health policy.' True, for some reason the law came into force on June 1, although it would have been more logical to do it a day earlier, on May 31, when World No Tobacco Day was observed at the initiative of WHO. As a result, this year the anti-nicotine holiday in Norway turned from a tobacco-free day into the day of the last drag, when smokers in bars last legally enjoyed a cigarette over a mug of beer.
Curiously, at first the Oslo authorities even intended to overtake Dublin: the tobacco ban was planned to be introduced as early as January 1, 2004. However, this was considered not very humane. After all, bar patrons would not immediately get used to the ban and at first would often run outside to take a drag. As is known, Norway is the northernmost country in continental Europe, and it is quite cold there on January 1. Now, when summer has come, customers can be sent outside without much concern - in June, even beyond the Arctic Circle, it is not so easy to catch a cold. And by next winter, apparently, heavy smokers will have to choose their path: either not smoke, or not drink, or increase their frost resistance. However, Irish experience shows that many regulars of bars managed to adapt to the new conditions: 20% of smokers have learned to sit the whole evening in a pub in front of a mug or a glass, without once running out of the building for a smoke break.
Norwegian authorities believe that society will support this anti-tobacco fight. For greater confidence, a PR campaign has also been launched, informing those who wish about how to quit smoking and calling on the population to forget this harmful habit. For example, simultaneously with the introduction of the ban, 40,000 flowers were handed out to passers-by on the streets of Oslo - a symbol that now the air of Norway will become cleaner and, apparently, more fragrant. In addition, tourists arriving in the country will be greeted at airports by advertising posters. They will feature Norway's main asset - the famous fish and the inscription 'The only thing we smoke here is salmon' ('We only smoke where salmon is smoked').
However, there are, of course, opponents to such bans. In April, in the small town of Levanger, supporters of tobacco smoking celebrated a partial victory. Since January 1, local authorities had introduced a draconian law that completely prohibited municipal employees from smoking during the working day, wherever they were. Tobacco lovers were indignant and went to court: they claimed that the authorities could ban cigarettes only in public territory, for example in the town hall building or on the street. And the one who smokes at home or in his car has full right to tobacco smoke, since this is their legal property, not subject to the city's authority. The court recognized the plaintiffs' correctness and agreed that the Levanger authorities had managed to intrude into the private life of residents, and this, they said, is strictly prohibited by the European Convention on Human Rights.
However, starting June 1, the convention will apply quite differently in bars and restaurants. There is no private life in public places, as is commonly believed, and the authorities have every right to establish their own rules of the game. The health of non-smokers is recognized as the highest value, and lovers of tobacco smoke will have to run outside. Or drink at home in front of the TV.