Smoking Ban 20 Years On: ‘We thought it would be absolute chaos but look at it now!’

On 29th March 2004, Ireland made history by becoming the first country to ban smoking in the workplace and with it came the end of 'lighting up' in pubs and restaurants.

Twenty years on, it is hard to imagine sitting down to a steak in a restaurant while the smell of smoke wafted from the next table or the stench of smoke that clung to your clothes after a night in the pub, even though you may never have touched a cigarette yourself. But that was the reality of socialising in the pre-smoking ban era when this was the norm.

Tánaiste Micheal Martin was the health minister who introduced the ban and pushed ahead despite vehement opposition from publicans around the country who feared the smoking ban would sound the death knell for many pubs if smokers could no longer have a fag with their pint.

But the ban went ahead, the ashtrays were removed and pubs adapted. Yes, they took a hit at the start as smokers got used to the new regime but publicans got creative with their outdoor spaces, patio heaters were installed and long before Tinder, people quickly realised the smoking area was a great place to strike up a conversation.

Mick Ryan of Ryan's Pub in Navan recalled that before the ban came in they had one member of their floor staff who would spend the whole evening just going around emptying ashtrays into a container. He also remembered how smoky the pub was before the ban.

Like many publicans, Mick was very concerned about the impact the smoking ban would have on his business and he was one of hundreds of publicans who attended a meeting in the Portlaoise to protest against it.

"Naturally enough we were very worried about it. We thought, this is going to be absolute chaos. It's going to affect our custom and everything else that went with it. If there was that was volume of smoking going on inside, then where are they going to smoke? And what would we have to do to facilitate them to smoke?

"I attended the meeting in Portlaoise run by the VFI to challenge the smoking ban. It was in the Killeshin Hotel and the ballroom was absolutely packed with publicans so it wasn't only Mick Ryan's worry. All the publicans were there with the same gaunt faces on them."

While many feared that customers would flout the ban and light up anyway, Mick said he was very lucky that all his customers adhered to it. He added they were also lucky to have a beer garden outside.

"We were lucky enough that not one person lit a cigarette in the pub after the ban came in. They were very adherent to what the law was and they knew if they wanted to smoke, they had to go outside. Naturally enough they found it very strange in the beginning.

"But look at it now. I am absolutely delighted that it is outside, and not inside. That smoky smell is gone. The staff are better off and are in a position now where they are not inhaling smoke the whole time."

Jarlath Fitzsimons recalled there was "huge disgruntlement" within the pub trade and many of his customers at Fitzsimons Pub in Navan were not impressed to have to go out in the rain for a smoke.

"There was huge disgruntlement within the pub trade. A drink and a fag went hand in hand at the time. I recall that when it came in, it could have been wet and people were giving out why did they have to go out in the rain. But then publicans did make huge changes to develop their spaces.

"Since it came in, it is amazing the way people now appreciate enjoying their drink in a smoke free environment."

One of the major positives was the impact on workers' health. Jarlath said: "From a worker's perspective, back in the day, I may as well have been smoking at least ten fags a night. We had a low ceiling and the place would be jammed and you would be there for hours. Even if you weren't a smoker, when you look back at it and the environment you worked in."

"At the time there was huge disgruntlement but I would say now, the whole table has turned. Now it's a much healthier and cleaner environment for people to come in to and enjoy.

"A lot of pubs would have done food and if you are eating food, you don't want somebody smoking on top of you either. People's attitudes prior was that this was accepted."

He recalled it was a huge hit for the business at the time, and said some home drinking did start as a result but like everything else, you had to adapt.

"I do believe people have come to realise that smoking isn't for inside in bars and restaurants and smokers are willing to go outside and have their cigarette."

Jarlath also feels it is only a matter of time before vaping is eradicated from pubs and said he can see that coming into law along with the smoking ban.