Inevitably many of today's stories are about last night's coming into effect of a new law banning smoking in bars, workplaces, and other common indoor areas. Will Montrealers take to cigars or shisha, still legal in a few establishments?

I remember jobs in which I had to sit near people who were smoking constantly, and nights out which had to end with showering off the stink of innumerable cigarettes. Yes, I know the arguments about freedom and rights and bla bla bla, but my gut sympathies simply won't see the argument that it's okay for people to impose the consequences of their crappy habits on others.

One thing, though: I remember working in one shop which became non-smoking, and the effect was that smokers spent half their time outdoors "on break" while the nonsmokers got the work done. Nonsmokers should remember to take mental health breaks too.
posted at 09:49