My New Dirty Habit

Yes, indeed, I confess that I have a new dirty habit. I smoke! Not that I actually light the cigarette or actually inhale. Someone else lights up and then lets the smoke drain under my nose.

I have become a second hand smoker. Austria is notably behind other countries in terms of smoking bans or rules or regulations. Restaurants are not required to have smoking and nonsmoking areas and in those that have them voluntarily, there’s only blue air that separates them.

Another shocking thing about cigarettes is the easy access that children have to them. There are cigarette dispensing machines posted in many neighborhoods and they are at an easy height for children to reach. I don’t mean to be a prude, but it is disconcerting to be waiting at the bus stop while an 11 year old sitting next to you inhales greedily. I just want to ask him...

“Does your Muti know you smoke?”