Anti-smoking lobbyists have criticised a programme backed by the tobacco industry offering ventilation advice to Irish hoteliers and restaurant owners.
ASH, the anti-smoking group, says the scheme, sponsored by Philip Morris, is the industry's attempt to avoid further legislation, and the measures proposed would not protect people effectively from the harmful effects of cigarette smoke.
The Courtesy of Choice programme, run by the International Hotel and Restaurant Association, based in Paris, involves experts visiting restaurants and offering practical advice on air quality. According to brochures, it "helps hoteliers and restaurateurs to accommodate smokers and non-smokers in harmony".
An objective is to establish a framework of "self-regulation which enhances customer satisfaction and helps to guard against unreasonable legislation that may interfere with the way you want to run your business". Recently, the Western Health Board, which runs a Clean-Air Dining Campaign, was asked if it would be interested, but when it learned the tobacco industry was backing the scheme, it declined.
Mr Bart O'Brien, who runs the programme here, insists the group is up-front and tells "people straight out" who is backing the campaign. Since the introduction of the latest legislation restricting smoking there has been a high level of interest among restaurateurs, he says.
Mr O'Brien, who works in co-operation with the Restaurants Association of Ireland, said the programme was an "extra service" for members. Philip Morris feels it is a "positive and sensible approach" to the problem and "good for customers", he added.
But Dr Fenton Howell, a member of the board of ASH, says evidence that tobacco smoke causes harm was "incontrovertible". "We accept that we should have standards for things but environmental tobacco smoke is the single greatest source of indoor air pollution. No one would ever dream of thinking up a voluntary code for asbestos, and smoking is even more dangerous.
"Anything from the tobacco industry like this is a sham. They are putting the onus on the non-smokers. It is a bit like a person buying a chicken and being told it is contaminated and it is up to them to cook it properly," he added.
Dr Howell believes the scheme is a way for the tobacco industry to try to ensure no further legislation is introduced as the regulations have "no force of law".