Puffing on a smoke at an outdoor terrasse will likely soon be outlawed in Quebec, as new legislation is expected to ban the butts in such outdoor hotspots as of next week.
Anti-smoking advocates are celebrating the impending ban, which they say will protect people against toxic carcinogens.
“There's a real and well-documented risk for workers and non-smokers,” Dr. Genevieve Bois of the Quebec Coalition for the Control Of Tobacco told CTV Montreal Friday. “I think people will understand that because we have such a vibrant terrasse culture. Shouldn't everyone be able to enjoy it without putting their health at risk?”
However one prominent Montreal bar owner called the initiative “hypocrisy,” and noted that government is cashing in on hefty cigarette tax revenues but is only taking steps that will hurt bar and restaurant owners.
“If the government thinks cigarettes are poisoning the public they should just ban it once and for all. Make it illegal,” said Peter Sergakis, who heads the Union of Quebec Bar Owners, who vowed to fight the new law.
Another bar owner proposed a middle road. “We could have some terrasses where you're allowed to smoke and others where you're not. So if you don't want to be around smoke you don't go to that terrasse,” said Jean Marc Lebeau of Boris Bistro.
The new law will be the first Quebec tobacco legislation in a decade and will also affect fans of vaping by tightening regulations on e-cigarettes.
