SMOKEY BARS

SMOKEY BARS
Regular readers of this column will realise that I spend my days in the healthy open air in the Mountains and my nights in Smokey Bars. Guests from Ireland and Britain are often upset that they can no longer enjoy a drink in a smoke free atmosphere. This is because Andorra has not yet caught up with the rest of the civilised world, in banning smoking in public places. Andorra WILL catch up. They always do, women have had the vote here for almost 39 years.

At home, smoking is mainly confined to the poor and the stupid, I realise that there are exceptions to this, but in Spain and Andorra even clever people in well paid jobs smoke. This may be partly due to the cost of cigarettes, I have seen cartons of 200 being sold for about 10 euros, although names that I recognise, from Formula One Cars cost about double this. Smokers, please remember that Andorra is not in the E.U. so you cannot take back an unlimited amount. This would deny our beloved leader, Mr. Brown (blessed be his name) from earning much need taxation.

Recently I have noticed that some very polite smokers from home have been going outside or into the entrance to the bar rather than polluting the whole area. This must be a good habit from home. However there are many more smokers, who selfishly ruin the atmosphere for others. If I am in such a bar, I usually inform the staff that I am leaving as it is too smokey. I think that if more people did this, bar owners would be forced to install decent ventilation or ban smoking. In the current financial climate, no bar wants to loose custom.

The Palarine has a strict NO SMOKING policy in the dining room but do allow it in the bar. Last summer they considered banning smoking in the bar during July and August. They have a charming outside patio, which gets the evening sun, where smokers were going to be encouraged to take their drinks. Sadly they did not try it in case it offended the Hispanic market. It would not work this time of the year ,as it is under snow at present.

Enough of my whingeing, I have had a pleasant week, with a very kind group of good intermediates. We enjoyed some great skiing but had to put up with poor visibility due to snow on a couple of mornings. All things considered, a great week.