[thechat] Smoking in the US

[iris]

a few months ago i moved back to germany after 14
years in US and UK.  i was suprised to find cigarette
advertising everywhere (billboards, in the movie
theatres, not on tv though).

i don't think there's more people smoking here and i
think there's a tendency in the same direction as in
the US and UK, but sometimes i just find myself
shaking my head in disbelief and sometimes disgust.

smoking in restaurants and public buildings is still
common.  even by the side of an indoors swimming pool!
imagine coming up for a breath of air and inhaling
smoke.  even in offices i found people chain smoking.
gross!

on the other hand, if you drop your cigarette butt in
the streets of frankfurt you are fined 20 euros!
(although that's probably a littering issue not a
smoking issue) and most train and all tube stations
now seem to be 'smoke free'.  in frankfurt train
station you get fined 30 euros for smoking.

i should say that i am actually a smoker, an 'evening
smoker'.  but i dislike smoking in public places.
and, as erika said, i would never smoke in a
non-smoker's house or in front of children, or in my
own house if i have non-smokers as guests.

iris




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