Stub Out Cigs Zones In Boozers

What harm if the pub reopens without the smoking area? Who cares once we get the green light for a few scoops?

- Siobhan O’connor

The Irish pub is a quintessential part of who we are – without the pub over lockdown, we’ve felt lost.

We’ve missed the craic agus ceol, the gossip, the banter, our favourite barman pouring our tipple, the long-lost school friend we hadn’t seen in yonks, but randomly bumped into.

We lament not being able to dress up, to escape to our local for a quiet drink with the girls, the lads miss meeting for a few swift ones to watch the game.

I’ve been dreaming about my local, Harry Byrnes on the Howth Road, Mick O’Brien our favourite barman knows every one of us by name – it’s like missing your left arm, not being able to go to the boozer.

The local has been obliterated in the last few months and will come back looking a lot different when we come out of this pandemic.

The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland’s Policy Group on Tobacco called on the Government to make outdoor areas non-smoking zones in a bid to maintain social distancing.

Chair Professor Des Cox sent a letter to Health Minister Simon Harris requesting for their proposal to be implemented.

He said: “If outdoor areas are to be used to facilitate social distancing when bars open up again, then smoking should be prohibited from all areas of all pubs when they reopen.”