04/15/2004: 
Stuff That Doesn't Suck
Smoking ban violates human rights
from Aftenposten (Norway)
referred by alert reader Kilik
Employees of the municipality of Levanger had to completely abstain from smoking during their working hours. The county administrator (Fylkesmann) claims such a strict ban contravenes human rights and has now repealed the controversial prohibition, newspaper Trønder-Avisa reports.
"A good day for us. The Fylkesmann's ruling shows that democracy works. We have said all along that government or municipal rulings could not contravene Norwegian law. Now everyone must see that we are right," said Progress Party representatives Birger Meinhardt and Steinar Holten, who celebrated their victory for local smokers by lighting up cigars.
Levanger's extremely strict anti-smoking law, which also prevented employees from lighting up in the privacy of their own cars during office hours, was ruled a breach of the European Human Rights Convention by the county administrator, who found that the right to smoke was part of the right to a private life.
The municipal administration and labor unions had earlier expressed that their employees were happy with the tough anti-smoking law and deemed it a success.
VICTORY WILL BE OURS
