The world through a lens: Zagreb
26 November, 2009
By Euan Ferguson
A whirl of tutus in a Zagreb cafe-bar during a break in ballet rehearsals: poise, and skin, and fabulous discs of swan-white tuile, and yet what are our eyes drawn towards? Exactly. A little paper tube, being happily smoked.
The smell will be of black Balkan tobacco, yes; but it is also the smell of rebellion and the first successful example of people-power since the idea of smoking bans began sweeping the developed world. It's only 18 years or so since the notion first captured the imaginations of thoughtful caring responsible/interfering self-righteous killjoy (insert own prejudice here) authorities. California went first: 37 US states have now followed. In Europe, smokers sneered: at the surf-dude health-fascists over there and at the more, shall we say, organised continental countries – Norway, Austria (of course) so swift to follow – and laughed that it would never happen here.
The surprise was not that it did happen in Britain – the idea of another ban, particularly on anything fun, was obviously very catnip to this government – but that it was accepted so meekly. In Ulster, the free spirits, all those broths of boys so full of the rebel songs, lined up to smoke in the soft, soft rain. The thrawn, torn-faced Scots embraced the ban with hacking Calvinist fervour. England and Wales made angry noises, then succumbed: smokers through all these isles, for all our fine words, gave in like meek, coughing lambs.
What have the Balkans ever done for us? Until I saw this picture, I would have said pretty bloody little. Anger, wars, vampires, evil food, poisoned rivers, dictators, distrust, revenge and fear and it still features the only part of the world – mad northern Albania – where I've been offered a handgun for protection in a hotel because they'd lost the bedroom key. But Croatia rebelled against its bar/cafe smoking ban and simply kept on smoking. The ban has now been revoked. Plucky little Balkans. There is hope.
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Croatia gives up on smoking ban
9 October 2009
Croatia has abandoned a ban on smoking in cafés and restaurants only five months after it was introduced.
Owners of small cafés can now decide themselves whether to allow smoking or not. When the ban was introduced in May, it met with widespread protests. Café owners were afraid they would lose customers. The Croatian press has slammed the lifting of the ban.
The newspaper Jutarnji List describes it as “a victory of café owners over common sense”.
The smoking ban continues to apply to schools and hospitals.
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Croatian smoking ban loosened up
Plans to strictly enforce a smoking ban in Croatia have been watered down by the government.
After complaints from some businesses that it would be bad for them, smoking will be allowed to continue under certain conditions in bars and restaurants, which could appeal to holidaymakers from countries such as the UK where public bans are now in place.
Health minister Darko Milinovic said that the law was not being changed due to "any pressure".
"We are still taking care of Croatia's public interest," he said.
Cafes that are smaller than 50 square metres will reportedly be allowed to decide themselves whether they will be smoking or non-smoking, while larger establishments will have to have a smoking zone that takes up less than 20 per cent of the surface area.
Smoking in public places has been banned in Croatia since May, but many cafe and restaurant owners have suggested that it is ruining their business.
