Editorial: Take a breath of smoky Swiss air

Switzerland is playing catch up on the smoking ban. They'll come around in the end.

We are accustomed to viewing Switzerland as superior. Their railways climb mountains and you can still set your (Swiss) watch by their time-keeping. Their snow is the whitest, their lakes the bluest, their air the most translucent. Their frequent referendums take democracy to its extreme. This weekend, though, voters were asked whether they wanted to replace existing smoking restrictions with a full ban, similar to those in force elsewhere in Europe. Surprisingly, the answer was No.

Typical Swiss independent-mindedness? There is perhaps something to be respected in that, but presumably they will come around in the end. They were latecomers to votes for women, too.