Completely different to ”Betty”.

Completely Off Thread (sorry) but much of this appears to be filmed around Enfield (where I was born) and Edmonton (Where my dad is from) in North London.  The Outside shots of the Leisure centre are Picketts Lock (where I learnt to swim), and he grabs the bus 3/4 mile away at Edmonton Green (though he must hav overshot- he is coming from the West, when the leisure centre is to the East).

Yes I know OT- but I think all that’s going to be said has been said about smoking.

Update on smoking laws in Austria (if anyone’s interested):  the interim period of voluntary compliance with the law, which requires restaurants of over 75 sq. meters (about 750 sq. feet) to have a separated room for nonsmokers, is coming to an end.  A study shows that few restaurants, mostly those in tourist centers, have complied.

Smaller “locals” have the choice of being smokefree, allowing smoking, or allowing smoking after 10 pm.  My guess is that most of them, especially the ones not expecting many tourists, will go with the smoking option.  Austria is considered by many to be “das letzte Raucherparadies Europas”, the last smoker’s paradise in Europe.

As I’ve said, while I’m against smoking in public places, I have mixed feelings about forbidding it in private businesses.  Why shouldn’t smoking be allowed in bars, for instance?  The sticking point for me is that smoking is not just an annoying habit that other people have; it’s a public health issue.

It comes down to this:  Why should smokers have the right to inflict their smoke on others?  Sure, everyone has the choice to not go into a restaurant where people smoke, and theoretically to start their own non-smoking restaurant.  There have always been a few of those, even in Vienna.  But practically, since restaurant owners are in it for the money, why would they voluntarily do something they think will reduce their business?  It just doesn’t happen.

So even though it sounds rational to leave the choice up to the consumers, in practice (at least here in Austria) that means that if you wanted to eat in a smoke-free environment, before the new laws, you had to go to one of the few, exorbitantly expensive, vegetarian restaurants here, or stay at home.  And I’m selfish enough to say that the minority of drug addicts should indulge their habit where I’m not required to share it.

What Zilch and Adenauer said.

Somewhat late to chime in but on April 29th at Noon Hubby and I will celebrate five years without a cigarette.  We quit cold turkey because we were tired of writing those checks for $30.+ every three days.  We were both long time smokers not afraid of health problems but definitely disgusted with the stupidity of wasted money for so many years and the fact that the price per pack was climbing continually.  We have since learned the consequents on the health side also.  Would I still like a cigarette?  Once in a while.  Would I start again?  I hope never!!(and mentally say no way in hell, baby)

Congratulations to both of you, Momma.  From what I’ve heard, tobacco is one of the hardest addictions to quit.