Smoke gets in your eyes etc.

Just about now the time allocated by the Spanish Government for restaurants over 100m, which want to continue to allow smoking, to provide a partitioned off space for smokers is up. Sadly, many are trying to avoid compliance and, sadly too, smaller retaurants and bars, which can either choose to be smoking or non-smoking, are choosing the former option. Strictly speaking, when going down this route they are also deciding to ban young people under 18 from their premises-but who on earth is going to police this? And given that, by and large, the Spanish do not leave their children at home when they go out, who is going to observe it?

We could be wrong, of course. Not before time a new system of points deducted from driving licences (a clean licence has 12 points) has been introduced and could potentially see people banned for speeding, driving with a mobile phone in hand and drink driving, instead of fines, as is now the case. Certainly the first two are clearly pervasive and the third probably so. Over 300 people died on Spanish roads in August partly as a result.We have also seen more police stopping kids on motor bikes without helmets and, consequently, more young people wearing their helmets. But the Spanish belief in personal freedom-to the point of idiocy in some instances-is a very strong and sometimes perverse legacy of Francoist repression.

In the meantime, we are doing our bit by supporting the one non-smoking restaurant in La Barossa. Our favourite Pizzeria (and nearest restaurant) reverted to smoking after a brave start in the New Year when the law was first introduced, so now we go to Soave, which is a bit of a walk, but smoke free. The Government are also using an advert highlighting the impact of smoking on children, since, if there is anything the Spanish love more than their cigarettes it is their children. We shall see.