When you go out for a drink, you no longer have a choice, of course; body odor and farts it is.
The recent passage of a smoking ban throughout Britain has created a new problem for pub-goers: the stale and foul smells the smoke once covered up. The Sunday Times of London said a lack of cigarette smoke in British pubs has revealed the quite unpleasant odor of sweat and stale beer, prompting one company to begin placing fresher scents inside the pubs its manages. Included among the unique smells now filling Mitchells & Butlers pubs are freshly cut grass and a pleasant ocean breeze.
Oliver Devine, a marketing manager, said such smells became necessary once the true smells of pubs were laid bare by the smoking ban. "Appetizing food smells have increased but others are less attractive, such as stale food and beer, damp, sweat and body odor, drains and — how do you put this nicely? " Devine said, "flatulence."


Cue the call for a law requiring daily bathing and government subsidized deodorant.
Posted by: Nick | Monday, August 06, 2007 at 03:01 PM
Funny, they ban smoking, then they fill the room with (per)fumes that contain the same kind of poly-aromatic hydrocarbons they wanted to ban for their supposed health hazard.
"Like other fragrance products, candles, incense and potpourri can release many chemicals and are little regulated. When burned, candles emit small amounts of organic chemicals such as acetaldehyde, formaldehyde and naphthalene, according to one U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report.
"Incense is another source of indoor air pollution. When burned, incense sticks release particulate matter into the air. Several studies have linked exposure to incense smoke with cancer, asthma and contact dermatitis. One study reported that children whose parents burned incense during pregnancy or while nursing had a higher risk for leukemia. Carbon monoxide and benzene are also released when incense burns, as well as fragrance chemicals like musk compounds, for which there is little toxicity or health data, though they are persistent in the environment."
Posted by: benpal | Tuesday, August 07, 2007 at 08:29 PM
Way I see it, this is simply a roundabout manner of accomplishing the same population levels as smoking-related deaths would bring. When the bar patrons smell each other's stench they won't mate as much, meaning fewer kids, which is what the governments are really after. Then Jamie Oliver's school dinner crisis won't be such a black eye on the national pride.
Pass the beer-- somebody stepped on a duck.
Posted by: Jeff the Poustman | Wednesday, August 08, 2007 at 02:14 PM