The obscene amount of vehicles pumping out noxious fumes in Italy

[Carole B]

Originally Posted by PennyWhite

Perhaps in the north there is more industry and more industrial type vehicles pumping out stuff?
Cigarette ban about to hit England at the weekend, already in France etc, what word of Italy, or would that be too much to expect ?!

Smoking in public places was banned here in January 2005...it is obseved quite strictly, to the best of my knowledge and experience, where I live in northern Lombardia and certainly in the two cities that I visit at all regularly - Bergamo and Milano.

Smokers do go outside to smoke regardless of weather conditions. Though I must admit that up here many places have made sure that summer and winter their customers can at least keep dry, if not warm. Many have erected open sided awnings with (at times) tables and chairs and ashtrays for smokers.

[lombardia2007]

Originally Posted by Dawn

Penny,

Are you referring to Smoking in Italy, there has been a smoking ban in public places for two yeras.

Dawn.

lol Carole, your shorter reply meant your post was added a minute sooner

[lombardia2007]

Originally Posted by Carole B

Smoking in public places was banned here in January 2005...it is obseved quite strictly, to the best of my knowledge and experience, where I live in northern Lombardia and certainly in the two cities that I visit at all regularly - Bergamo and Milano.

Smokers do go outside to smoke regardless of weather conditions. Though I must admit that up here many places have made sure that summer and winter their customers can at least keep dry, if not warm. Many have erected open sided awnings with (at times) tables and chairs and ashtrays for smokers.

lol, another cross-post

It's true smokers will brave any weather conditions for a nicotine fix - if you're an unwilling victim, just make sure you're not downwind, lol

[ronald]

Suddenly those huge outdoors heaters have become very popular in Italy, just to allow customers to smoke outside. I wonder how much in terms of wasted energy has the 8% in smoking cost Italy - what with all these heaters trying in vain to create a space of 50cm that is bearably warm so that someone can slowly kill themselves

As for cars - I have to admit that the situation here in Sicily is quite bad. Too many camion because the rail system is practically non-existent and since there are not enough highways these camion fight it out in what can only be called country roads.

Then when it comes to city centres, especially historic ones with narrow roads and town planning for horses and carts and not SUVs the situation is even worse.

[Lorraine]

I don't think Italy is on it's own where pollution from cars exists. Here in 'ol Blighty I need to use my inhaler every day but when we go to our house in the Italian mountains I only use it rarely. Big towns and cities are always going to have problems with pollution due to the high number of vehicles on the road.
As for no smoking, we went to a bar while in Italy on New Year's Eve - right next to the 'cop shop' - and they were puffing away merrily and no-one batted an eyelid. T'other half reckons he's going to make it his local next time we're over. No smoking comes into force on Sunday here and heaven knows what he will do then as he's smoked for over 50 years and has no intention of stopping.
Each to their own I suppose, I stopped over 20 year ago due to asthma and health related problems and before anyone starts on about passive smoking, I've tried that one on him already.

Lorraine

[deborahandricky]

Hi
Most of these fuming trucks are normally the best the part of 40 years old ( thats great for recycling ). Italy also has a huge number of LPG and Natural gas cars , very low emmissions.
I drive a V8 jeep that runs on Nat. gas, 250 kms for 18 euros ( againest 90 euros for petrol).
I also think that other countries probably have worse pollution created by Chelses tractors and Tesco, Waitrose and M&S excess packaging and home deliveries.

Ricky

[Nielo]

If every smoker in the UK gave up on 1st July, what new tax would they invent to cover the loss of revenue?

[DavidandLinda]

Oh dear Lombardia, are you happy to be in Italy? Every thread we read started by you, makes us feel you have doubts! So much seems to upset you ?

[lombardia2007]

Originally Posted by DavidandLinda

Oh dear Lombardia, are you happy to be in Italy? Every thread we read started by you, makes us feel you have doubts! So much seems to upset you ?

Hi D&L,

Don't worry, there are many things which do make me happy to be in Italy, and I'd rather be here than the UK; it's just I don't like having my life shortened by over-polluting vehicles, and being ripped off on over-priced food & milk! They're my only complaints about living here & fair comments I reckon! Everything else I've said has been positive about my experience of living in Italy.

[Carole B]

What's with this 'overpriced' food then Lombardia?

I only live at the other end of the lake from you and my fresh food shopping costs far less I think than it ever did in the UK.

I don't go for expensive ready cooked meals though oR take-aways, but prefer to spend a little time cooking fresh food and, if necessary, freezing it myself. Same with fruit and meat. Fish IS expensive though, but it still costs less than in the UK I believe.

Milk is more expensive here, but it is used far less than in the UK for daily consumption in the home. So maybe that's a question of supply and demnd.