4593  Smoking in the milongas

Date: Sun, 03 Sep 2006 16:03:50 -0300
From: Deby Novitz <dnovitz@lavidacondeby.com>
Subject: [Tango-L] Smoking in the milongas
To: tango-l@mit.edu

Re the law, the absolute "no smoking" depends on the size of the place.
If it is less than 100 sq meters then there can be no smoking. If a
place is larger, then they can have a smoking area completely
independent of the non-smoking area. There can be no smoke in the
non-smoking area. The rules for how this is to be achieved is fairly
detailed.

As one who lives here, I can tell you that either it will be observed or
not. Probably not very strongly at first. Then again I have been
surprised many times by things I never thought would be observed and
they are. When I look back at my first visit here in 2000, there were
no non-smoking areas. Everything was smoking. The milongas were much
worse than they are now. A night in the summer was a sure way to gag and
feel like sudden death. Gradually places added non-smoking areas. The
ventilation has been greatly improved many places. With the new law the
non-smoking areas have been made larger. How many times I have gotten
in a taxi where a sign is posted for no smoking? Many! There is no
smoking in government buildings.

There is now a public awareness about smoking that was not here before.
One night at one of my dinner parties we were almost 30 people. The
majority were Argentines. One friend commented that no one smoked in
this group of people. The majority of my friends are Argentines and I
have only two friends who smoke. I know many people who have quite smoking.

This is not to say that there is not a lot of smoking here. There is.
Coming from California where almost no one smokes and there are strong
anti-smoking laws, is a big change to live here. However, it is
changing here. Will it kill the milongas? I doubt it. Some will
adhere to the laws, others will stretch them, and others will ignore
them, just as they have with the laws on capacity. Eventually, everyone
comes around.

Date: Sun, 01 Oct 2006 15:16:29 -0300
From: Deby Novitz <dnovitz@lavidacondeby.com>
Subject: [Tango-L] Smoking in the milongas
To: tango-l@mit.edu

Today, October 1, is the first day of the new law prohibiting places of
less than 100 meters to have smoking. Those at 100 meters or more may
only have up to 30% for smoking - however, there must be no contact with
smoke in the non-smoking areas. The rules are so stringent it would
cost too much for most places to consider a smoking area. The fines for
ignoring the law are stiff.

The real question is, will people respect these laws? All I can tell
you so far is that on Friday at Gricel, it was announced that starting
on Sunday Gricel would be non-smoking to adhere to the new laws. To
everyone's surprise a loud cheer and applause erupted from the crowd.
As we say in Spanish...Vamos a ver...(we'll see) I will let you know
during the week what I find. For now it seems people are going to
faltar los puchos..

Date: Sun, 01 Oct 2006 18:07:47 -0400
From: "WHITE 95 R" <white95r@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] Smoking in the milongas
To: dnovitz@lavidacondeby.com, tango-l@mit.edu

Great news Deby, perhaps now Buenos Aires will become a truly welcoming
place for those of us who love tango but want to stay alive to enjoy it (:

Manuel

visit our webpage
www.tango-rio.com

>From: Deby Novitz <dnovitz@lavidacondeby.com>
>To: tango-l@mit.edu
>Subject: [Tango-L] Smoking in the milongas
>Date: Sun, 01 Oct 2006 15:16:29 -0300
>
>Today, October 1, is the first day of the new law prohibiting places of
>less than 100 meters to have smoking. Those at 100 meters or more may
>only have up to 30% for smoking - however, there must be no contact with
>smoke in the non-smoking areas. The rules are so stringent it would
>cost too much for most places to consider a smoking area. The fines for
>ignoring the law are stiff.
>
>The real question is, will people respect these laws? All I can tell
>you so far is that on Friday at Gricel, it was announced that starting
>on Sunday Gricel would be non-smoking to adhere to the new laws. To
>everyone's surprise a loud cheer and applause erupted from the crowd.
>As we say in Spanish...Vamos a ver...(we'll see) I will let you know
>during the week what I find. For now it seems people are going to
>faltar los puchos..