How to Challenge a Smoking Ban

You do it by smoking.

We posted on Keith Richards's alleged on-stage smoking during a Stones gig in Glasgow earlier this week, presciently under the heading, "Scotland's Smoking Ban v. Keith Richards". Well, it looks like the smoking ban fought Keith Richards, and Richards won.

Claims that he broke the law by puffing on a cigarette while performing at Hampden Park were made to Glasgow City Council, but environmental officers said yesterday the stage at the stadium is not an enclosed public place, as defined in the ban.

I'm sure there are other exceptions. And the only way to find them is to keep on smoking. Any old punter can do it.

The Scotsman has learned that some licensees wait until tourists and other strangers leave their bar before locking the doors and allowing trusted groups of regulars to light up. Some establishments even have a secret supply of ashtrays they bring out for the occasions.

Pro-smoking activists said last night they were not surprised the "smoke-easies", which appeared in Dublin and New York after bans were introduced there, had also been imported to Scotland.

Bonus: Richards, when asked once about his drug use, replied, "I've never had a problem with drugs. I've had problems with the police." That and other good drug quotes here.