Swiss reject full ban on smoking in public spaces

[martinc]

La Tribune de Geneve suggests voters rejected a full ban because they did not want to force the smaller cantons into changing their local laws, and because of resentment at perceived state interference in people's lives.

AYE.

BBC News - Swiss reject full ban on smoking in public spaces

 

[rolygate]

A resounding vote against more anti-smoking measures. Perhaps it was because they already have smoking rooms and non-smokers are protected, which seems to make sense. The issue of employees is probably a red herring, there are likely to be several reasons why in most cases it's not an issue.

I like the 'instant 20% reduction in heart attacks' quote. Prof Philips would have some fun debunking that one; it sounds like one we heard before, where it turned out that actually there was a rise that year compared to the overall trend. Apart from the fact that if smoking or not smoking had such an instant effect it would be miraculous, never mind all the smoker vs non-smokers included vs the ventilated rooms issues etc. inherent in such an 'interesting' statistic. A junk statistic if ever I heard one.

 

[Bill Godshall]

Some more articles on the Swiss vote.

Two thirds of Swiss voters reject nationwide smoking ban for all workplaces, including voters in 25 of 26 cantons
BBC News - Swiss reject full ban on smoking in public spaces
AFP: Swiss voters say no to tightening of smoking ban
Nationwide votes : Voters reject tougher smoking laws - swissinfo
Ballot box issues : Strict nationwide smoking rules voted down- swissinfo

 

[tommy2bad]

At least the Swiss asked! We Irish just got the smoking ban imposed, no consultation, discussion or debate, only "on the first of April , smoking will no longer be allowed in any workplace indoors or out" Different form of democracy in Switzerland.