Norwegian smoking ban boosts health, study shows

OSLO - A ban on smoking in Norwegian bars, restaurants and night clubs has been a huge success in improving staff health, the government said.

Norway imposed the nationwide ban in June 2004, the second country in the world after Ireland to do so, to give waiters, cooks and other staff in the sector the same protection as workers in offices or factories which have long been smoke-free.

New Zealand introduced a similar ban in December last year.

"It's been even more successful than we had hoped for and means a cleaner environment and better health for all workers," Dagfinn Hoeybraaten, the labour and social affairs minister, said at the launch of a government study.

Many smokers, however, grumble that their habit has become even more unhealthy and unsociable because they are forced outdoors in snow, wind or rain.

The study showed that staff breathing has improved, nicotine in their urine has been virtually wiped out and air quality cleaned up by the ban.

"Now you can compare bars and restaurants to the office. But it was terrible before the ban, maybe worse than working in heavy industry," said Marit Skogstad, part of the research team which tested 74 waiters and waitresses before and after the ban.

Dust levels in bars and restaurants fell from over 250 milligrams to 75 milligrams per cubic metre and the amount of nicotine in the urine of non-smokers on the staff dropped by almost 90 per cent, the study showed.

But while staff health may have improved the effect on their morale and earnings is less clear.

"I don't feel any better," said non-smoker Thomas Lunqvist, who has worked at the Three Brothers bar in the centre of Oslo for five years.

"There are less people drinking and it is hurting the atmosphere," he said, pointing around the near empty bar.

Around a quarter of Norwegian adults smoke, studies show, and Oslo bars have had to be inventive to stay within the law but ensure smokers are comfortable.

Many have installed gas-powered heaters and hauled up canvas shelters outside, where clients can legally smoke.

One owner bought a petrol filling station, retained its broad roof, left the sides open and allowed customers to smoke -- legally -- at the bar.

Linda Jensen said she always tries to sit outside now as she smoked a cigarette on the terrace of the Three Brothers bar.

"Of course it's more uncomfortable ... Norway does not have the best weather, but we will still smoke," she said.

- REUTERS