One of the great mysteries of modern Irish life was the acceptance by the public of the smoking ban which was introduced by Minister for Health, Michael Martin, in March 2004. The initial reaction of a sceptical Irish public was that it would not work. Our traditionally rebellious nature would see to its demise was the general prediction prior to the introduction. Ireland was also the first country in the EU to introduce such legislation and was alone in taking such a stand, without public support from Brussels.

Perhaps that was why it succeeded. This was an Irish initiative, not an EU imposed one, and thus there was possibly a sense of pride in being to the forefront of change pioneered by Ireland. In the immediate aftermath of the introduction there were pockets of resistance, mainly in rural areas, where some publicans were reluctant to implement the new law because of their concern for elderly customers. In the main, however, the law was observed and the few court cases that initially followed for breaking it were enough of a deterrent to prevent many repeats happening.

Electronic cigarettes are a new way of going green for cigarette smokers. If you are thinking about switching from traditional cigarettes to electronic cigarettes, it would be your best choice you have ever made. A lot of people have used them as a safer alternative to smoking. Also, some people have used them to quit smoking completely.

Electronic cigarettes contain any carbon monoxide, second-hand smoke, or tar. Also, there are no burning substances. They do, however, contain nicotine. They contain a smart chip, which turns the product off, if too much nicotine is delivered in a short time. The lit end is just a LED light that gives the appeal of a normal cigarette but is not hot and cannot burn anything.

The vapor stain teeth, leave any offensive smokers breath, no stains on walls, and no messy ash or toxic residues to clean up. After you exhale the vapor or smoke, it leaves a pleasant aroma that is quickly odorless, upon dispersal.

About two months ago, I walked into a restaurant located somewhere in Lagos to pick up a bowl of Fish soup. While my soup was being prepared, I noticed a group of white folks seated at a round table and smoking cigarettes. Amidst them were two black men and a half-caste little girl who was coughing and sneezing repeatedly. This little girl, my humble self, other customers and workers in this restaurant, were all at risk of the harmful health effects of secondhand smoking.

The smoke that comes from the burning end of a cigarette or that is expelled to the air by a smoker is referred to as Secondhand Smoke. The inhalation of secondhand smoke otherwise known as Passive Smoking is a very significant public health hazard.