The smoking ban came into effect in Ireland in March 2004.This law meant that smoking was banned indoors in the workplace.However, with the outdoor ahead the.
Ireland set the precedent for smoke-free work places. By Matthew Skwiat, Contributing Editor
This past March 29 marked the 10-year anniversary of the smoking ban in Ireland, a milestone that few thought they would see. In 2004, a law banned smoking in the workplace that extended to pubs and restaurants. At the time the Vintners Federation of Ireland said the law was “unnecessary, unworkable, and unjustified.” Since then, the image of an Ireland filled with pints, music, and smoke is no more thanks to the success of the law.
Health ministry studies show 97% adherence to the ban. The law has also been a boon to the tourism and hotel markets in Ireland. Stephen McNally, president of the Irish Hotels Federation, recently told The New York Times that the “ban was a spectacular success,” adding “we used to come home at night and your clothes would have this horrible stench. Now our restaurants, hallways, and bedrooms smell fresh.”