Dissidents fight for human rights in New York
And the authorities deprive people of the right to smoke breaks
In New York, a demonstration of smokers took place to protest against a bill banning smoking in almost all public places in the city. The demonstration received a great public response, despite the fact that only about 50 participants took part in it.

For the past month, signs have been posted in restaurants and bars calling on those dissatisfied with the new bill known as the Smoke-Free Air Act to take part in the demonstration. The organizers threatened to gather 10 thousand indignant smokers in front of the city government. Only a few dozen came, but what they lacked in numbers they made up for with an abundance of emotion. The demonstrators, carrying a huge three-meter cigarette above their heads, chanted: “We smoke - go to hell!” The majority were committed smokers, offended by the very idea of the possibility of restrictions on their freedoms, who were joined by restaurant owners, waiters and bartenders.
Smokers' rights advocates believe that the restrictions that current legislation imposes on them are quite sufficient. The law, passed in 1995, prohibits smoking in restaurants with more than 35 seats, in office buildings and even in private offices with more than three employees. If the new law is adopted, smoking will only be allowed in specialized bars and nightclubs.
There are states where anti-smoking laws have long surpassed New York's in terms of the severity of their bans. In California, for example, smoking is prohibited in all public places. But Californians in general have an increased desire for a healthy lifestyle, which cannot be said about New Yorkers. Therefore, owners of small restaurants, of which there are over 20 thousand in the city, have reason to fear a decrease in the popularity and profitability of their establishments as a result of the smoking ban. Representatives of the restaurant business are lobbying the City Council to reject the bill, and they are supported by New York Mayor Rudolf Giuliani, himself a heavy smoker.
Almost all major trade unions, the American Lung Association and the American Medical Society are in favor of introducing a new law. All these organizations, in addition to caring for the health of their employees and fellow citizens, understand that the spread of smoking leads to an increase in diseases, which results in large compensation payments for sickness, as well as possible claims against companies that did not warn their employees about the dangers of smoking in the workplace. In New York in January, hearings on claims by workers of asbestos companies were already held, and tobacco corporations are next in line. Trade unions and medical organizations believe that preventing diseases is easier than suing. They intend to make similar arguments during debates in the city council, when the bill will be discussed in May or June.
Smoking has been fought for a long time. In Russia in the 19th century, you could only smoke at home and in special rooms of clubs; smoking on the street was prohibited. At a time when many medicinal properties were attributed to tobacco, allowing people to smoke on the streets was seen as a conquest of natural freedoms. Nowadays, the fight against smoking in public places is carried out not so much for the sake of promoting a healthy lifestyle and fighting a bad habit, but for the sake of protecting the rights of “passive smokers”.

IVAN Kommersant-FEDIN

Newspaper "Kommersant" No. 53 dated March 27, 2001, p. 9