Thread: smoking and the pub
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Old 04-11-2005, 00:20   #1077
SlackDad
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Re: smoking and the pub
Found this which I thought was worth posting re the cultural effects of smoking bans in other countries. http://www.sundayherald.com/46058


I especially liked the Irish experience where a whole new sub-culture appears to be emerging. The ban seems like good news for any singletons out there.

Quote:

In Dublin, Paul Trainerââ‚à ‚¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s livelihood depends on him being sociable. As publishing manager of the Dubliner magazine, he has to review bars and restaurants, go to gigs and check out nightclubs. Cue the violins you might think, but since the smoking ban has come in, his experiences of trawling DublinÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šà ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s backstreets for cool new things has changed.

†œPeople are heading †˜out for a fagââ‚ ¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢ who donââ‚ ¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢t even smoke †“ smoking corners have become pick-up points because you stand and chat, ask for a light, moan about the weather †¦ even the health minister Michael Martin has joked about the pulling potential of smoking.

†œYou see whole collections of ghost tables of half-drunk pints that have been abandoned, or with a coaster over the top. If a group of six people go out, half of whom are smokers, it makes for a very disjointed night †“ the other three are left watching the jackets and the drinks for hours at a time.ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šà ¬Ã‚Â

Roberta Gray, a columnist for the Sunday Tribune, and a woman who doesnÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šà ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t bat an eyelid about the label †œgirl about townâ₠¬Ã‚ said those who have previously been unsuccessful at flirting can now do well, armed with a cigarette.

†œNever in my life did I think I would say this, but I wish I smoked sometimes. My friends have the best time standing outside flirting and smoking †“ itâ₠¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢s a whole subculture of meeting people that Iâ₠™m just not involved in because I donââ‚ ¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢t smoke.ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šà ¬Ã‚Â She believes the †œIâà ¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€ŠÂ¢m freezing but do you have a light?ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šà ¬Ã‚Â routine will only grow in Dublin. †œIâà ¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€ŠÂ¢m amazed there hasnââ‚ ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t been a slang word invented for it yet, but there will be one soon. You go into certain places and they are half empty, then you look out into the dingy lane or beer garden out the back and thatââ‚ ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s where all the atmosphere is.ââ‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚
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