Mariano's Ecclestone Moment: Eurovegas and smoking

As 2010 drew to a close, many were the nigh-apocalyptic predictions as to the effects of the Spanish smoking ban that was to be implemented at the start of 2011. Bars and restaurants were going to close in their hundreds or thousands, meaning that thousands more workers would be added to the ever-increasing unemployment figures and that civilised life in Spain would come to a halt. Once introduced, these nightmarish predictions continued, now supported by statistical evidence of declines in business for bars. Down 70%. Down this much, down that much. But since around the spring of 2011, we have heard very little about the effects of the smoking ban, the negative ones, that is. Bars may have closed, workers may have lost their jobs, but chances are that these closures and job losses were due to factors other than the punters being unable to smoke inside licensed premises. And where a bar has closed, for whatever reason, there never appears to be any shortage of someone else being willing to re-open it.

The smoking ban has made bars that much more pleasant. Previous law prohibiting smoking in offices and other places of work has made these that much more pleasant, too. Though inspectors find cases of the bans being flouted, and so issue their fines and announce the number of infractions that have been committed, there has been little by way of obvious resistance to the bans. But the law is still flouted.

I shall of course not identify the business, either its type or its name, but I was in one of its offices last week. On the wall was a large notice which stated that smoking was prohibited anywhere on the business's premises. Moreover, staff were also prohibited from going outside to have a smoke. In no uncertain terms, staff were told that they would face disciplinary procedures if they failed to adhere to these prohibitions. And what do you know? There was the unmistakable smell of cigarette smoke, both fresh and that repulsive stale variety as well. As I was reading this very clear and prominent notice, in walked some chap to converse with another chap. He was smoking.

Efforts there have been for the smoking bans to be reversed, especially the ban as it applies to bars. When I say efforts, these have amounted to no more than expressions by various groups, including some business associations, of a wish to go back to how things were. Their argument is that business and therefore the general economy would improve, were the ban to be lifted.

Though little evidence is given to back up this claim, there have been suspicions that the Partido Popular government (the one in Madrid as opposed to the regional one in Palma, which can't do anything about the bans in any event) might want to backtrack on the smoking ban. Mariano Rajoy, famously a cigar smoker and infamously once photographed with a substantial Havana in his chops at a time when Spain was at its lowest economic ebb, had, so it was suggested, implied that he might get the ban lifted. Rajoy continues to deny he ever implied such a thing. But, when big and new business hovers into view and it is big and new business that comes with multi-billion investment from the USA attached and it is big and new business that will bring jobs to the city that is the centre of the Rajoy government, i.e. Madrid, the prime minister is inclined to listen to the possibility of at least reducing the all-embracing nature of the ban in public places. It might only be one public place in which the ban would be lifted, but it would be a very substantial place. That place is Eurovegas.

Rajoy says that it is his job as prime minister to listen to people. It does rather depend, one supposes, on who these people are and so the closeness with which Mariano listens, but when one of these people is Sheldon Adelson, the big boss of the big Eurovegas project, you can bet your life that Mariano is listening intently. Think of all that money, Mariano, think of all those jobs, Mariano, think of all that they might mean in getting you re-elected as prime minister, Mariano.

The prime minister is denying there will be a relaxation in the ban, but Adelson and Madrid's regional president appear to believe there will be. And if there is, it would be far more of a cave-in than Blair's Bernie Ecclestone moment. It would also be a decision that would have all sorts of businesses clamouring for a total relaxation, and with justification. The smoking ban would otherwise be an act of hypocrisy.


Any comments to andrew@thealcudiaguide.com please.