ROME – The Municipal council of Rome has proposed that the city join the ranks of Melbourne, Amsterdam and Milan and ban smoking in the city centre in the streets, piazzas, gardens and UNESCO World Heritage sites.

 The vote was due to be cast Thursday and has created uproar on social media. The ban which has been hailed by some as ‘the right thing to do’ and others as completely ‘dick breaking’ – Italian for irritating, is in pursuit of improving ‘the health of citizens and also better the air quality in Rome’ according to local politicians. 

 Many, however, even those in favour of the ban, have noted that cigarettes are least of the problems that currently plague daily life in Rome. Recently, there has been an uptick in violent crime, with three men going on a violent 24-hour rampage last month, as well as a resident being stabbed by a man attempting to take her bag. This does not include issues pertain to heavy traffic affecting air-quality, as well as general socio-economic issues. 

 Nevertheless, the local council has decided that smokers are the current biggest threat to society. In Milan it is already forbidden to smoke in open spaces, such as parks, gardens, public transport stops and aggregation places. 

 The policy is in line with the recommendations of the already troubled World Health Organization, which recently has been asking for further ‘donations’ from the public since Trump’s withdrawal of funds. Lorenzo Minio Paluello, group leader of the Civica Rome Futura and the first signatory of the act explained to the media that, ‘Our goal is to make the historic centre of Rome a healthier, liveable and respectful place for everyone. The act proposes the ban on smoking in the public spaces of the Municipio I. We want to protect the health of citizens, improve the quality of the air and reduce the urban degradation caused by the abandonment of cigarette butts".

 Whether the ban will be extended to Vatican City, which is, of course, a territory in its own right, is unconfirmed, as for now the Vatican have yet to ban lighting one up with a full view of St. Peter’s Basilica.

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