July 6, 2009

They just couldn't wait, could they?

With the pub industry already on its knees directly because of the smoking ban that Labour lied to us all about in their last general election manifesto - and it's always worth remembering the liars, I think - the berks at the European Commission have been desperately trying to think up ways to kill it stone dead.

Now this bunch of faceless idiots - and who has the time to check up on them? Or the inclination? Really? - plan to include "outdoor areas" is currently being discussed by the European Commission.

Yes - they want to ban smoking in beer gardens.

The Commission wants "member governments" to complete the ban by 2012 to "protect" citizens from second-hand smoke.

It is also attempting to clarify rules on current enclosed public spaces by proposing that "the definition of 'public places' should cover all places accessible to the general public or places for collective use, regardless of ownership or right to access".

It is further recommending that 'indoor' (or 'enclosed') areas be defined to include any space covered by a roof or enclosed by one or more walls or sides, regardless of the type of material used for the roof, wall or sides, and regardless of whether the structure is permanent or temporary.

Needless to say, no Government in this country is at all likely to stand up for the people who pay their wages so expect beer garden fags to be banned imminently.

Don't forget, though - you can still smoke in Annie's Bar in the Houses of Parliament, because it's a royal palace and therefore exempt from the very laws they create there.

And the beer is subsidised, too.

Still, no word yet on when they plan to ban barbecues.

But fear not - I'm sure they're on the case.