Smoking ban lights up love life

The days when smoking was cool are supposed to be long gone and smokers are supposed to be out of fashion. That's the theory. In fact, in Ireland, where a complete ban on smoking in bars, pubs and restaurants has been in place for over a year, having a quick drag has replaced speed dating as the best way to spice up your love life.

The cosy courtyard of the Temple Bar pub in Dublin looks like any other outdoor venue on a sunny evening. People stand around drinking, gossiping and moaning about work. But look closer and you'll find a different situation. Everyone is smoking and, in between drags, they are practising their best, light-hearted chat-up lines as well.

Welcome to the practice of smirting (smoking and flirting), a craze which has swept Ireland. Since the introduction of the ban in 2004, pubs and bars opened outside areas for smokers to gather and with them came a more relaxed attitude to meeting people. Now people find themselves striking up conversations over a quick fag.

On one level, it is unsurprising that those hanging out in smoking areas seem to be having more fun. Smoking is an intrinsically social habit. You meet a wider mix of people and the opportunities to start a conversation are many and easy. Nor is it simply hardened smokers who hang out outside, there are also people who weren't really smokers at all but they'd go outside for a cigarette.

This increase in social smoking is one of the more worrying aspects of smirting. Anti-smoking campaigners believed that the ban would improve health and stop people smoking. But many young Dubliners admit that they have increased their consumption of cigarettes because of the social benefits.

Question 1 Decide whether the following statements are true or false. Give evidence from the text.

a) Smirting is very popular in Ireland.
b) Nowadays, people who smoke have more chances to chat with new people.
c) Only regular smokers are found in these open spaces.
d) Young Irish smoke more now than they used to do.

Question 2 Answer the following questions in your own words.

a) Why is it said that smoking is a social habit?
b) What is the most negative aspect of smirting?

Question 3 Find words in the text that are synonyms of the words below.

a) prohibition (par.1)
b) complain (par.2)
c) start (par.3)

Question 4 Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a) Anti-smoking campaigners supposed that the ban would improve people’s health.
The ban…
b) Since the introduction of the ban in 2004, pubs and bars have opened outside areas for smokers.
If the ban…
c) People stand around drinking, gossiping and moaning about work. However, look closer and the situation is different.
Although…

Question 5. Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:
What do you think of the smoking ban introduced in Spain?