Public goodbye to smoking in bars in Finland

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Finnish restaurant life changed once and for all at midnight, when the last cigarettes had to be stubbed out in most bars and restaurants, as the amendment to the law on smoking in public areas came into effect. Moreover, part of the restaurants voluntarily embarked on their smoke-free era already on Thursday afternoon.
     
However, not every establishment gave up smoking as willingly. Around 90 restaurants in Helsinki have applied for a two-year transition period from the City of Helsinki Environment Centre.
      Eight restaurants filed their applications at the last moment on Thursday. Part of the permits cannot be granted until next week, while around 20 restaurants were granted their permits already on Thursday, reports Antti Pönkä, the Chief of the Environmental Health Unit of the City of Helsinki Environment Centre.
      Those restaurants whose permit applications had not been handled yet had to forbid smoking as well. However, no officials turned up to inspect whether or not the cigarettes were extinguished at 00:00 sharp as the law requires.
     
A precondition for permission for a grace period is that the bar or restaurant concerned is able to guarantee that no smoke will spread from its smoking area to other parts of the establishment.
      According to the Environment Centre, on Thursday a transition period was granted to a number of restaurants, including Grand Casino, Suomalainen Klubi, Sir Eino, Michelle, and König.
     
Restaurant Toveri was one of those who did not want to give up smoking that easily. On Thursday, they distributed leaflets headed "The fight goes on", saying that the restaurant will turn smoke-free only temporarily.
      The officials had not made any decision on the restaurant’s potential grace period as yet.
      At five minutes to midnight, the personnel distributed cigarettes to all those who were willing to enjoy their last gasper, while non-smokers were advised to leave for a while and come back at midnight into a new and cleaner era.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Cigarettes to be stubbed out in Finnish bars and restaurants tonight (31.5.2007)

Links:
  City of Helsinki Environment Centre

Helsingin Sanomat