The Norwegian Parliament, Odelstinget, passed the bill on
total banning of smoking in the hospitality business, April 8
2003.
The banning of smoking will be implemented at places that
serve food and/or drinks and where these items will be consumed in
the same facilities. Places that will be affected by the law, as
from spring 2004, are such as; restaurants, cafés, discos, bars,
pubs and the like.
"I see it as an important task and
political responsibility to pave the way for advancing improved
public health. The use of tobacco is the number one risk factor
causing preventable diseases and premature deaths in the
population. Reduction of tobacco consumption is therefore a
challenge that I give high priority in my capacity as a Minister of
Health", said Minister Dagfinn Høybråten during the debate in the
Parliament. He characterises the move as a historic milestone in
the struggle against diseases caused by tobacco use.
"With the knowledge and evidence we
now have on the effects of smoking, would it be an act of gross
negligence if we could not protect employees against smoke at their
working places", said the Minister. Annually 350 to 550 non-smokers
die in Norway as a result of passive smoking. 120 000 patients with
asthmatic disorders have been partially unable to visit restaurants
where smoking is allowed.
The main purpose of this bill is to
protect employees and other guests against passive smoking. The
employees in restaurants and bars are the only group in Norway to
day that has no effective legal protection against smoking at their
working places. Research has shown that waiters and barkeepers have
a significant higher risk of acquiring lung cancer than other
groups of employees. An American study has also shown that already
after 4 weeks of banning smoking in restaurants in California, the
health of the employees had improved.