Banned in Spain - but smokers' paradise is oh so near!

IT’S JANUARY 2, 2011 AND FROM TODAY SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES WILL BE BANNED IN SPAIN VERY MUCH ON THE SAME LINES AS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

PERHAPS THE MOST ACCEPTABLE (IF NOT THE SAFEST) PLACE FOR SPANISH-BASED SMOKERS TO GATHER IN FUTURE IS ON BALCONIES LIKE THIS ONE (click on the link). GRAB A CIGGY, POP OUTSIDE, TAKE IN THE VIEW, LIGHT UP – AND YOU’LL BECOME AN EX-SMOKER IN A MATTER OF SECONDS.

IN FACT, THE EXPRESSION ‘TO CRASH THE ASH’ WILL ADOPT A TOTALLY NEW MEANING.

AM I HAPPY THAT I’LL FINALLY BE ABLE TO ENJOY A MEAL AND A DRINK IN SPANISH BARS AND RESTAURANTS WITHOUT BEING SUBJECTED TO CLOUDS OF STINKING TOBACCO? YOU BET I AM!

AND WHILE I REMAIN CYNICAL AS TO WHETHER THE SPANISH PEOPLE WILL ABIDE BY THE NEW LAW,  I'M ALL FOR GIVING IT A GO. IF THE WORST COMES TO THE WORST, WE CAN ALWAYS USHER THEM OUT ONTO THE BALCONY...