NORWAY BANS ALL SMOKING IN RESTAURANTS AND BARS

Following the examples of several cities and the state of California, Norway will impose a nationwide smoking ban next summer. Smoking will be illegal in all restaurants, bars, and cafes. This action will be the first time an entire country outlaws smoking. And it appears that The Netherlands, Finland, Ireland, and Sweden will be doing the same in the near future.

The aim of the Norwegian ban is not only to protect staff that work in these establishments from the harmful effects of passive smoking, but also to "de-normalise" smoking as a social pastime.

What is most interesting about these European countries attempting to "de-normalise" tobacco smoking is that they are the same countries that have or are trying to "normalize" marijuana smoking and other recreational drug use. They also are trying to normalize euthanasia, homosexuality and same-sex marriage, and anti-Americanism.

Somewhat related is this story where Norway is now tracking individual alcohol consumption by community. So, it appears that big brother is well prepared to identify those people in the country that may need government intervention for improper alcohol consumption. Coupled with the recent policy of publishing every citizen's tax records on the Internet, Norway doesn't consider privacy to be an individual right.

In summary, Norway's liberal government enacts laws mandating social behavior and collects and publishes personal data on its citizens. Liberalism continues its insidious march toward socialism.