Thank you for (not) smoking

Has law prohibiting smoking in public places caught on in Israel? More so in restaurants, less so in bars and clubs

Yehudit Yahav|Published: 11.18.08 , 13:05

When the law prohibiting smoking in public places was first introduced in Israel a year ago, many people were skeptical that Israelis would be able to follow the new restriction and agree to down their beer without the inevitable cigarette to go with it.

A year later, it appears that Israelis are more obedient than one might think and the anti-smoking law seems to have caught on in restaurants, though less so in bars and clubs.

"Most of the customers are simply disciplined," said David Levy of the Avant-garde restaurant in Tel Aviv. "We don't allow smoking, and the costumers have internalized this fact. Those who want to smoke go outside. I'm a smoker myself, and I prefer the situation as it is today."

Drinking and smoking in Tel Aviv bar

A survey conducted by the Rest website among restaurateurs revealed that about 60% of them have found a legal solution for smokers (a separate area in the venue, for example), while the other 40% said they were still searching for one.

Drink more – smoke more

However, while smoking has been almost completely eliminated in restaurants, the situation in bars and clubs is quite different. Some places have simply decided to ignore the new law and risk getting fines; others have found "creative solutions" such as designating certain areas for smokers or hanging a "members only" sign outside, a legal loophole which enables smoking at the place. Those who obey the law pay a price and lose costumers, and money.

Generally speaking, club owners have completely given up attempts to enforce the law on partygoers. "At first we used to ask the costumers not to smoke inside, and they didn't," said A, the owner of a well-known Tel Aviv nigh club. "With time, however, they started taking it less seriously, and the more they drank – the more they smoked."

Meanwhile, owners are also sensing that police and local authorities have eased their enforcement efforts. "After a difficult period, during which restaurateurs have become the punching bag for the authorities, the situation has stabilized and people realized that business owners are not serial rapists, but that they recognize the law's importance and are doing their best to enforce it," said Ronen Arditi, director-general of the union of restaurant, café and bar owners in Israel.