TY - JOUR T1 - Smoke-free bars in Ireland: a runaway success JF - Tobacco Control JO - Tob Control SP - 73 LP - 74 DO - 10.1136/tc.2005.011304 VL - 14 IS - 2 AU - F Howell Y1 - 2005/04/01 UR - http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/14/2/73.abstract N2 - Banning smoking in bars in Ireland has proved extremely popular On 29 March 2004, Ireland became the first country in the world to implement legislation creating smoke-free enclosed workplaces that included bars and restaurants.1 While the legislation involved all workplaces, with minor exceptions, national and international media attention focused on how the legislation would be implemented in bars. Many commentators looked on in disbelief and suggested that Irish bars, globally iconic for smokin’ and drinkin’, would be the last place on earth one would expect to see go smoke-free. If Irish bars could successfully go smoke-free, what was the problem elsewhere? Ireland is not alone in having smoke-free bars. Since March 2004, Norway, New Zealand, Uganda, Bhutan, and Italy, have implemented smoke-free workplace legislation for all workers, including restaurant and bar workers. Before March 2004, considerable progress in implementing smoke-free restaurants and bars occurred in the USA (seven states) and Canada (five provinces) with further progress due in 2005. Elsewhere, Sweden is scheduled to go smoke-free in July 2005 and Australia by the end of 2007. In the UK, Scotland is leading the way in the fight to go smoke-free. All over the world, many countries are actively looking at the feasibility of bringing in some sort of smoke-free legislation to protect their citizens.2 While public transport, cinemas, and offices are relative policy change cakewalks, the real … ER -