Belfast Telegraph, Northern Ireland, on smoking bans:

If the speculation is accurate, it looks as if Northern Ireland will follow the Republic by imposing a total ban on smoking in pubs, clubs and restaurants, in response to public demand. There would be widespread disappointment if next week’s announcement fell short of an outright prohibition in enclosed public premises.

The choice was whether or not to confine the ban to places where food was being served, but Health Minister Shaun Woodward would be advised to listen to the voice of the people, as well as health experts and many trade unions. In a consultation exercise earlier this year, 91% out of 71,000 respondents wanted a comprehensive ban and, if anything, opinion is hardening in its favour.

People have seen the results of the ban in the Republic, where fears of widespread breaches of the law or boycotts have not been realised. Pubs are more attractive to the non-smoking majority, tourism has barely been affected and staff have welcomed a much healthier working environment.

All governments want to promote better health, if only to cut down on illness and premature death, and curbs on smoking are some of the most effective remedies. High taxes have helped, although they increase the supply of smuggled cigarettes, but the Republic has shown the world that a ban on smoking can not only be acceptable, but popular.

Statistics show that the numbers of smokers in the Republic is falling, from one in three adults in 1998 to one in four today. While a fifth of 15-18-year-olds are smokers, many will give up — as Mr. Woodward has — because of the trouble of finding somewhere to indulge their habit.

In a province which already has more than its share of health problems, the logic of reducing risks to a minimum is irrefutable. Smoke, if you will, but do it at home, outside preferably, remembering the effect on others.

The Age, Melbourne, Australia, on men and their health:

American writer P. J. O’Rourke once said: “There is one thing women can never take away from men. We die sooner.” This should come as no surprise to anyone who has cast even a cursory glance over health statistics. As the most recent Victorian Population Health Survey shows, male lifestyle decisions place them at greater health risk than females. In an age when takeaway food has become a regular choice for those too busy (or incompetent) to prepare healthy meals, only 3.6 per cent of men were found to eat the recommended five servings of vegetables each day. Sex Discrimination Commissioner Pru Goward blames traditional views about masculinity for men’s poorer health. While there may be some truth in this, it is no excuse. The time has long passed when men could rely on stay-at-home wives and mothers to feed them properly, make their medical appointments and ensure they exercised.

A man’s health is his own responsibility and deserves at least the same attention he lavishes on his car — proper daily care, regular servicing and careful diagnostic testing to ensure optimum performance.

Great gains have been made in changing public attitudes to smoking, drink-driving and speed — all threats to public health. ... There should be no reason that a boy born in 2000 should be expected to live to be 77, while a girl born the same year can expect to reach 82.