News & Comment
Sydney apartments stub out smoking
Saturday 2nd April 2011, posted by admin
An apartment block in Sydney has made history by becoming the first residential building in Australia to ban smoking inside all residents' homes. Advocates say it could be the way of the future for high-density living.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the owners of the building have introduced a bylaw to stop anyone smoking anywhere within the building and on its balconies. The action followed complaints about smoke drifting into neighbouring flats, and butts dropped from balconies.
"We've made it a smoke-free zone in its entirety," Alex Antic, chairman of the owners' corporation, said. "The right for people to smoke has to be balanced with other people's rights to clean and fresh air in their own home. Smoking isn't just a nuisance, either; it has serious health effects."
Source: Last gasp: not even the balcony is safe for a puff (Sydney Morning Herald)
Comments:
Posted on Wednesday 27th Apr 2011
Australia has to be one of the most regulated nanny states in the world - if not the most regulated. Forget your mental image of tough, independent Aussies - they just aren't. You can divide them neatly into bullies and bullied.
Buying cigarettes there is fun too:
What brand do you want? (they are all hidden away)
I don't live here so I don't know.
Well, what nicotine and tar level cigarettes do you usually smoke?
Er......I don't know. Hang on, here's an old packet of my usual brand.
We don't have those.
I know, that's why I need to choose another brand. Can you show me some packets please?
No, we can only take out one brand at a time.
Fine, you can take out one brand at a time until I see soemthing I might like.
We can't do that................its against regulations.
And another one: sign seen on a jetty extending over dry land towards a drying up lake but not reaching it:
No fishing or diving off this jetty!
And so it goes on.......there are countries in the world that are much more fun to visit and the flights aren't so long either.
