Cunning plot?

This is all a bit late from me, but I'll chuck in my tuppence worth anyhow. Smoking ban, for those that work in the pub trade (moi), is an incredible relief. I used to think a smoke-free boozer would lose some of its atmosphere - and it did; the stink and the filth of it all. Now, not only do I return to my fragrant and fresh wife and home (yes, both smell good) at night unhindered by a rank stench, I may also have the benefit of a few more years on this planet. Woohoo - human rights.

Now we need to start fining all those schmucks that chuck cigarette butts in the street .

Went for coffee at our local today, and the street and pavement outside the door was littered with 100s of fag ends - horrible.

....first health results of the earlier ban in Graubünden available here. Heart attack rates down 21% in the 2 years since the ban.

I wonder why these neanderthals can't implement an effective smoking ban like in other countries, so that I wouldn't have to cough out my lungs everytime I pass HB!

Could you elaborate?

Piece of s**t smokers everywhere stealing my good air.

HB, annoyed, smokers, angry, air?
Calm down, here is the best way

people throwing their "butts" on the railway stations or anywhere else should be fined

> It is THEIR air as well as yours. All restaurants and shops are smoke free. The Bahnhof-section Landesmuseum is smoke free. And at present, the attacks of the smokers against the stricter Cantonal bans have to be stopped. This will need several years. And only later we can go ahead. Fact is that the Cantonal bans approved by the people are stricter than the Federal ban approved by federal parliament.

And now to the practical side. I pass HB several times per week and have no problems.

You mentioned "other countries". What other country with direct democracy do you have in mind ? Where else do parliamentarians have to fear a public vote ? As soon as the "interim period" is over, SBBFFSCFF in view of the costs of smoking will go ahead with farther reaching bans at rail stations, but not before.

Rail stations are NOT closed areas and so in most countries are areas where smoking is not prohibited. It is the rail-companies who can prohibit smoking in their facilities.

Mate, you may be Swiss but to those people from other countries which are a bit more progressive in stopping a filthy habit, Swiss railway station stink and are carpeted with cigarette butts.

Everyone I know who comes to visit us remarks on how foul the Swiss railway stations are and they can't believe what it's really like in a country that prides itself on it's cleanliness.

And, I don't believe that Swiss railway stations were explicitly mention in the referendum. They should have been. Someone screwed up (or more likely intentionally ignored the issue).

HB was mentioned. But the vote was cantonal and so limited to the Canton of Zürich. And it clearly stated "closed areas" which the HB main hall unfortunately is not.

The problem HERE is the "direct democracy".

You mention "other countries". But in most countries with smoking bans, smoker can still smoke in the outside. As far as I hear, only some places in the USA and Canada have effectively moved in this regard. Also the USA law only applies to "closed" spaces. Rail stations in fact in most countries are under the jurisdiction of the rail compainies, and THIS in Zürich clearly is SBBCFFFFS and not the Canton of Zürich

Interesting in the HB is to see that most here, including smokers, DO regard it as a non-smoker zone and behave accordingly. Sure, I admit, the devastating "glances" smokers get from non-smokers have some influence in this

Rather, what surprised me in the past 10 yearrs was to how far the smokers here were to go. They are a minoriity but emphasisze their "rights" as if smoking was a religious riitual

Which HB do you use?

the ZH one

Now in comparison with Canada, CH is still well behind in curbing smoking. At least in Ontario bar and restaurant smoking was banned a good decade ago. In the last 5 years this has gone on to all work places (including your own truck if you are a trucker), automobiles with children, a good distance (10 meters?) from the entrance of public buildings and all public structures of consisting of more than two walls (this would include HB and almost all bus shelters in canada-except for the ones with only a back vertical wall and roof). Beyond that it is also illegal to have tobacco products visible for sale. All cigarettes must be behind an opaque door/shelf. Seems extreme, but it's made huge strides for those fighting temptation when quitting as well as tempting youth with constant visual bombardment.

So, a restaurant ought to be able to get round it too (in summer) by opening all the doors and windows.

Nah, I think those being sneaky getting round the law by trying to be clever with member cards, fumoirs, smoking bars on boats etc are acting rather childishly - they all seem a bit pathetic really.

Which is of course, mainly covered and there is no escaping the disgusting smoke. Typical for Switzerland, only half assed solutions for everything....I was in Munich the other week and lo and behold, the train station is bright, friendly and doesn't make me stink llike an ashtray, the same thing with Paris...the same thing with plenty of places around the world....but no, not Zurich, this worldy "first class" city welcomes you back to the 50s as soon as you step off the train.

The Basel SBB is no better, smoking allowed on the concourse over the tracks, but apparently not in the booking hall, yet they are both enclosed and connected by elevators

I am not a fan of smoking, but manage to adopt a live and let live attitude towards the smoke... however, I have NEVER understood why so many smokers feel it is OK to leave their cig butts anywhere and everywhere. These things are NOT biodegradeable and it is NOT ok to throw them out a car window, on the ground or wherever.

I was taught when I was a child to NOT litter. What is it with smokers...

fduvall

Yeah, would love to see the Suisse crack down on the littering of cigarette butts