Smoking in Polish restaurant & cafe's is forbidden

Since 1 January 2011, it is forbidden to smoke in indoor workplaces, and all public indoor spaces, including public offices, museums, bars, cafés, discos, shops or restaurants smaller than 100 square metres. In larger restaurants enclosed smoking areas are permitted, provided they are physically separated and properly ventilated. Bars with only one room are not exempted Smoking is also prohibited in venues for cultural and sporting events. Bars with only one room are not exempted. Places that violate the ban are fined 2,000 zł while individuals who violate it are required to pay a 500 zł fine.

Many bars and restaurants in Poland are clearly flaunting the law by allowing the terrace area to be used a free for all smoking sector. The Polish law states the smoking area must be clearly designated, segregated and ventilated. If you sit at a table on a terrace and there is no sign or ash tray on the table the area is clearly a non smoking area.As a non smoker you are within your rights ask the waiter to inform your neighboring tables to put out their cancer sticks as they are in a non smoking sector.

This works well. Outside should be exempted.

I disagree. The smoke still flows inside. In my osiedle the house next door is owned by smokers. They sit on their deck and smoke and it flows into our house. It is disgusting and we can't do anything about it. The same thing happens in restaurants. You are having a meal and the smell of smoke fills the restaurant from the outside in.

Good because I hate smoking. In Britain it is banned for quite a while. There is still a problem, since a lot of people go out of the building and smoke by the entrance, so in order to get in or out, you have to walk through a sauna of smoke. It's horrible. I think smoking areas outside should be the way, as they are in some places.

I also disagree the law states smoking areas should be clearly defined and segregate, as most terraces have some form of roof there is no true ventilation as smoke rises, if the terrace area is smoking only then the restaurant is restricting non smokers to dine inside, which is against consumer rights.

It's from the UK interesting reading about the risks of second hand smoke [ash.org.uk/files/documents/ASH_827.pdf]

Then make it an area for smokers only. Those who want a smoke free environment can go elsewhere. Nobody is frogmarched to a bar.

Oh come on John. Do you know how frustrating it was to have friends that smoke. They would want to go to a pub or bar, and you would have to either not go, or suggest other places. At least if you can't smoke in a pub or bar now, people can go in. If you want to smoke, then go outside to do it [but not at the entrance]. It is not that hard to step out for a cigarette is it? I think it is selfish to light up in a pub or bar [that allows it] anyway. It means that you have no regards for people in there that might want to smoke.

They make those plastic cigarettes that do not emit harmful smoke, they just give off a vapour [that is not supposed to be harmful]. They can be used inside. You can use that to quench your needs, then when you step out in a few hours time, you can smoke.

As an ex-smoker I know what you mean, but really have no problem going to one of the bars in Warsaw where people can smoke.

The 2006 US Surgeon General report states that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke and furthermore concludes that "the scientific evidence is now indisputable: secondhand smoke is not a mere annoyance. It is a serious health hazard that leads to disease and premature death in children and nonsmoking adults.The vast majority of people frequenting restaurants and bars do not smoke, the law was introduced to safeguard workers & visitors being exposed to the dangers of second hand smoke.When smokers light-up outside their smoke drifts, smokers have no control over their smoke.On a recent visit to the UK I visited a family member in hospital, the staff of the hospital have been banned from smoking outside the building and now have to walk 500 mtrs away to a small park. Smokers should be responsible for there own smoke and be fined when exposing others to the dangers of second hand smoke.

So allow a bar to decide its policy - smoking or non-smoking. This would allow people to choose an establishment that suits them. For mixed groups it may well be a factor, like music, food, clientele, that determines which place they choose.

The law for non smoking in work areas has been adopted by the sejm, it would be unwise to allow business to decide if they want to implement it or not. That would set a bad precedent, it would be much easier for business and smokers to accept the law.

The situation as it stands isn't so bad. Just a shame that there's a lobby to ban it altogether. I still strongly favour letting businesses decide, providing - and this is a strict condition - the rooms are unstaffed.

As someone else said, smoke from neighbouring terraces and balconies is a real problem for us non-smokers. Just like my last apartment, I suffer from cig smoke from neighbours here too. I can't open my windows unless they're out, as at least 3 of them nearby smoke outside regularly.

But as much as cigarette smoke may spoil things, it's not the only thing to worry about. Lung cancer is the biggest cancer killer in the UK, and growing evidence suggests it's diesel particles from exhausts:

Diesel exhaust fumes are 'major cancer risk' and as deadly as asbestos and mustard gas, says World Health Organisation

2013 research in The Lancet

My car has BlueTEC clean diesel system, so I am not part of the problem.

A bit of both. Damage from smoking stops your lungs from throwing off various particulates like the ones in diesel smoke.