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By e-mail - July 12 2006
Hello John,
I enjoyed your article last week, especially the issue of smoking on the green. For the last 25 years I have been an ardent advocate for non smoking on the bowling green. It must be the only sport after golf where smoking is permitted.
I have not seen any current bowler during his or her career as a hockey player running round the field with a cigarette clutched between the fingers or the lips. I have not seen any soccer player doing the same. Can you imagine a squash player smoking during his game, or one of our top tennis players during a National or whatever game, smoking on the court. The same applies to cricket players. Maybe, I have seen one or two having a quiet puff during drinks or tea or lunch, but not during play. I can just imagine a netball player running round smoking while passing the ball from one to the other.
We have some great soccer players from the old NFL days playing bowls today. Not one of them smoked during a game of soccer, and I bet that 90% of them do not even smoke today.
A game of bowls normally does not last longer than three hours. But, during that time I have seen people on the green smoking perhaps 10 to 15 cigarettes, if not more. This all to the detriment of non smokers on the green. Why must I be forced to inhale passive smoke from these inconsiderate people. It is about time that Bowls SA and District Executives take a firm stance on this subject. Club committees could in fact set the ball in motion, by banning smoking on their greens. I wonder if they have the balls to do it. Smoke off the green, if you have to smoke, but leave the green clear of smoke and ash. Can you imagine 40 bowlers on one green all smoking at the same time? The poor eight non-smokers have a huge problem. It is about time that we non smokers demonstrate with modern dancing or whatever it is called, (Toy-toying) and get smoking banned during play on the green.
I just wonder what the reaction from controlling bodies will be, should I refuse to carry on playing in a match, complaining that the smoke from smokers is interfering with my vision and concentration. Should I then be scratched, I will take the matter to the Anti smoke campaigners and insist that my constitutional rights have been infringed. OK the smoker can still smoke on the bank, with that I do not have any problem. As long as it does not interfere with me.
I do not know about big clubs in other districts. However, you find that clubs in the CGBA like Wanderers, Killarney and Houghton just to mention a few, banned smoking from popular areas. You can only smoke in a designated area. Why do bowling clubs not enforce this rule as well within the club house and pub? I do not believe that it will be expensive to create a special smoking area within a bowls club. 25% of eating areas in restaurants are now designated to smokers. Why can't this not also be done at pubs in bowling clubs.
We all would like to live a life of clean air and fun. I am tired of going home smelling like a squatter camp. That is the reason that I do not go to my club as often as I used to. OK extractor fans have been installed in some clubs. However, now that it is cold, these are sometimes switched off as they extract warm air out of the club or pub. So what, wear a jersey or a warm garment. Or best of all quit smoking in the pub!
All we as non smokers ask is consideration and a bit of clean fresh air.
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