Sir, - My husband and I recently visited the Abbey Theatre to see a production. During the interval we went to the bar to have a drink, but the smoke from cigarettes was so thick that we retreated downstairs, thinking that to be a non-smoking area. Alas, we were wrong, and the smoke there was just as bad. In the end we abandoned our drinks and headed outside in the cold. On returning to our seats, we found that the haze and odour from cigarette smoke had even drifted back into the auditorium.
I called the Abbey to ask about its provisions for non-smokers and was politely told that the management had tried to implement a non-smoking area, but that smokers complained loudly and, in any event, ignored requests not to smoke in designated areas. So the Abbey abandoned its efforts. I was also informed that there is no law requiring any theatre in Dublin to provide non-smoking areas. I next spoke with someone at the Environmental Health Department of the Eastern Health Board who confirmed that theatres have no such obligation, and who further commented that non-smokers just had to "endure" the smoke.
I cannot believe, with all the evidence now available on the dangers of second-hand smoke, that the Government, which provides taxpayers' money to these and other institutions, does not take more seriously this significant threat to public health. The person to whom I spoke at the Abbey said it would be easier if there was a ban on all smoking, but because there is no legislation in place, smokers rule the day. Apparently, smokers are more vocal in defence of their habit than non-smokers are in defence of their health.
If people want to smoke, then of course that is their choice, but they should not be able to exercise that choice at the considerable expense of someone else's health. And further, public buildings and institutions, including our Health Boards, should be clearly and unequivocally on the side of public health. - Yours, etc.,
From Annie Dunne
Sandycove, Co Dublin.