Dublin to Copy New York's Smoking Ban

Smokers living in Ireland's capital city Dublin face a total smoking ban in bars and restaurants from the end of the year.

"In 247 days and counting, one of the most potent accompaniments to a night out in Ireland will be stubbed out, and Dublin smokers are literally stunned," said the Observer.

Renowned libertarian Christopher Hitchens attacked the Irish ban suggesting New York has already adopted a character based on 'petty conformism' since tobacco was outlawed a month ago.

"Farewell in one word to Bohemia," he said (writing in the Daily Mirror.)

"From now on, New York will be just another safe, white bread city, conscious of its health, its figure and its respectability. This (smoking ban) crosses the line between protection of non-smokers and outright prohibition. It enters the territory where the government decides to act 'for your own good'."

His comments exactly matched the predictions of George Orwell, according to his biographer Michael Sheldon, who revealed the author of 1984 was motivated by his fears that increasingly powerful central authorities would stamp out 'the individual joys that make freedom worth having.'

"The lies, the betrayals, the manipulation of facts, the spying, informing and the brainwashing would all be done in the name of a greater good," Orwell predicted in the 40s..

"But the end result would be less freedom for most people, and a great deal more power for a few."
Tags