Beer-loving Czechs stamp out their cigarettes as pubs go smoke-free

Record ID: 877324

  • Title: Beer-loving Czechs stamp out their cigarettes as pubs go smoke-free
  • Date: 31st May 2017
  • Summary: PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC (MAY 30, 2017) (REUTERS) MAN ENTERING "THE OLD SWINE" PUB IN PRAGUE SUBURB PEOPLE IN PUB DRINKING BEER AND SMOKING CIGARETTES VARIOUS OF PHOTOGRAPHS OF COMMUNIST LEADERS HANGING ON WALL, ALONGSIDE PHOTOGRAPHS OF CURRENT CZECH PRESIDENTS COUPLE TALKING WHILE SMOKING AND DRINKING BEER VARIOUS OF "THE OLD SWINE" PUB OWNER, JAROSLAV (JARA) ZAHRADNIK, TAPING BEER (SOUNDBITE) (Czech) "THE OLD SWINE" PUB OWNER, JAROSLAV (JARA) ZAHRADNIK SAYING: "I can't imagine it (the smoking ban) because 99 per cent of people who come here are smokers and I have no idea how many people who don't smoke will start coming here but even if the number of people doubles I don't agree because it is interference in freedom - not of the smokers but the pub owners. Every pub keeper should decide himself if their pub will be smoking or non-smoking." MEN SMOKING IN PUB CIGARETTE (SOUNDBITE) (Czech) "THE OLD SWINE" PUB PATRON, PETR SAMEK SAYING: "I will keep coming for beer to the pub but I will have to go outside for smoking, whether it is minus 20 degrees or 30 degrees and sunny outside. I consider this law extremely undemocratic." PEOPLE IN PUB WATCHING TV WITH NEWS REPORTS ABOUT SMOKING BAN IN PUBS BEER AND CIGARETTE MEN SMOKING AND WATCHING TV TV SCREEN ON WALL PEOPLE IN FRONT OF "KONVIKT" PUB IN PRAGUE CENTRE PEOPLE IN PUB DRINKING BEER AND SMOKING MAN SMOKING VARIOUS OF BARMAN, FRANTISEK OTASEK, TAPING BEER (SOUNDBITE) (Czech) BARMAN, FRANTISEK OTASEK, SAYING: "I think the ban will bring more customers, but of course there will be more problems with people disturbing others outside the pub. I will be less busy because I won't need to clean ashtrays anymore and will have more time to care of the beer and guests." MEN AT TABLE (SOUNDBITE) (Czech) "KONVIKT" PUB PATRON, EUGEN KUKLA, SAYING: "For me this is an amazing day to celebrate because since today this pub becomes non-smoking. I have a lot of friends who are smokers, I like them, but I am glad they will respect the law and go outside to smoke. Then we will be able to bring our families here." BARMAN TAPING AND SERVING BEER MAN SMOKING CIGARETTE MAN AT THE PUB ENTRANCE FINISHING HIS LAST CIGARETTE
  • Embargoed: 14th June 2017 11:40
  • Keywords: smoking ban pubs beer pilsner
  • Location: PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
  • City: PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
  • Country: Czech Republic
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Living / Lifestyle,Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016J62QEX
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Pubs in the Czech capital Prague filled up on Tuesday night and some held special events as smokers lit up for the last time before a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants took effect.
    The ban, which started at midnight, gives the beer-loving nation some of the strictest cigarette-use laws in the European Union.
    Most welcome it but some fear the new rules add to the list of regulations for bar owners and will harm the country's pub culture, marking the end of an era.
    At the U Stary Svine (The Old Swine) pub, Petr Samek, a patron for two decades, said the ban went against a way of life long ingrained in Czech culture.
    "I consider this law extremely undemocratic," Samek said.
    The nation of 10.6 million - home to the original Pilsner beer - has the highest beer consumption per capita in the world at around 140 litres annually. A world-topping 40 percent of that is draught beer in pubs.
    About 28 percent of Czechs smoke, just above the EU average.
    Jara Zahradnik, who has worked at U Stary Svine since it started in the 1990s, said most customers who come to the small pub smoke while sipping their beers.
    He says the ban impinges on his freedom - a feeling echoed by many Czechs including President Milos Zeman, a smoker who has flouted other nations' smoking laws while on state visits.
    "I have no idea how many people who don't smoke will start coming here but even if the number of people doubles I don't agree because it is interference in freedom - not of the smokers but the pub owners," Zahradnik said while pouring a beer for one of the pub's six tables.
    Lawmakers approved the ban following years of wrangling. Some conservatives fought it, saying the measure would put smaller pubs out of business, especially in villages where they often represent a meeting point.
    Critics also say pubs are already under pressure from tougher gambling restrictions and a new online sales reporting system mandated by the government that raise operating costs.
    Still, three out of four Czechs supported the smoking ban, polls showed last year. Health Minister Miloslav Ludvik said the ban would open restaurants to the "silent majority".
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