Reckoning with Barrioboy!

I felt compelled to write to the papers on the subject of smoking laws (fags and stamps are bought in 'tabacs', one pictured above). On average I write once every 20 years, my publishing record is 100%, let's see what happens this time! Here's my view...just when Spain is/was about to introduce a ban in all bars and restaurants as in the rest of Europe on 2nd January 2011.


Playing with Death

Dear Sir,

The PP [Spain's right wing opposition party] and CiU's [Catalonia's goverment elect] proposal for self-service smoking cages and a delay of 6 months in the implementation of the new smoking law is playing with the lives of us all. To prioritise short term political advantage (vote catching and currying favour with the restaurant sector) over citizens' health and the nation's health bill in the long term is despicable. The last smoking law to be implemented was impracticable and plain stupid, leaving Spain completely out of step with the rest of Europe. This amendment would have the same catastrophic results on health and reputation. It is one thing to make a mistake, it in inexcusable to repeat it.

Yours faithfully,
'Barrioboy' (sic)