“When smoking in public areas, smokers impose their unhealthy choices on non-smokers. This is unfair on non-smokers, who have the right to safeguard their health in public areas. We therefore support the new regulations and the Health Promotion Department’s efforts to safeguard peoples’ health. We also look forward to the introduction of new regulations in respect of small establishments next year,” said a spokesman.

“The Ministry of Health should keep resisting the pressure of the Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises. Profits should never come before people,” he said.

Bartenders of the year

Every year The Maltese Bartenders Guild awards the Joseph Gusti Bartender of The Year awards to two of its members who have excelled in bartending during the year. These awards are sponsored by the Malta Tourism Authority.

This year the Flairtending award was won by James Aquilina, who works with the Corinthia Group at The Corinthia Palace Hotel in Balzan, and the Classical award went to Neville Azzopardi, who works with the Island Hotels Group at the Bugibba Holiday Complex.

As a result of their success, Mr Aquilina and Mr Azzopardi will be representing Malta and the Maltese Bartenders Guild in Las Vegas, where they will participate in the World Cup Cocktail Competition which is organised by The International Bartenders Association.

The two bartenders will be competing with their original cocktails which have George Monin Syrups and De Kyper Liqueurs as the basic ingredients. These products are represented in Malta by Paolo Bonnici Ltd and Francis Busuttil & Sons (Marketing) Ltd respectively.