The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health estimates the level of absenteeism has dramatically fallen in the restaurant sector since the introduction of a complete ban on smoking last year. Earlier tens of thousands of bar and restaurant personnel had to inhale tobacco smoke. Around 4,000 to 5,000 restaurant employees still face toxic tobacco fumes at work in the some 500 establishments which were able to obtain a partial exemption from the law until the summer of next year.
The Institute of Occupational Health says those restaurants allowing smoking should give their non-smoking employees jobs in areas where no smoking took place. They were particularly concerned about the plight of expectant mothers working in smoky surroundings.
The Service Union United PAM has expressed satisfaction with the tougher anti-smoking law. PAM says restaurant staff feared before the new law they would become 'tobacco police'. However, customers have adhered to the law much better than anticipated.
For their part, the Association of Hotels and Restaurants (MaRa ry.) says the smoking ban in restaurants has weakened growth in the sector. It claims the law has reduced alcohol sales in pubs and night clubs by as much as ten percent. However, the Association added it did not want a return to the past. In its view, tobacco is a carcinogenic substance from which employees must be protected.