European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 27, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8 the stars and stripes tuesday september 27, 1977 great debate smokers claim the right to smoke nonsmokers claim the right to breathe eighth in a 10-Day series of articles by staff writer Bob Hoyer intensely Felt personal rights Are at the heart of a smoking debate that becomes More antagonistic with each passing Day. Smokers feel they have a right to smoke. Nonsmokers feel just As strongly that they have a right to breathe clean air. Whenever members of the two groups come to Gether there can be problems. The potential for confrontation exists wherever smokers and nonsmokers gather at work in Public buildings in restau rants on elevators aboard air planes trains and buses even in the family living room. More and More nonsmokers Are taking the offensive. Startled and at times resent Ful at being asked to change a habit that was accepted less than a generation ago some smokers react angrily in defense of their constitutional right to  quietly accede to the wishes of nonsmokers. When militants on both sides of the Issue Square off Sparks Are Apt to Fly. At american military communities in Europe the Issue has precipitated office arguments caused tempers to flare at de pendent school faculty meetings bruised feelings at conferences and been a source of complaints aboard buses and at youth activities. The views of military smokers and non smokers reflect the intensity of interest in the subject. Maj. Richard Bell a surgeon on the staff of the army s 97th general Hospital in Frankfurt said i came to Europe from a a gentle hint medical Center where smoking was pretty much frowned on. But there is hardly any place you can go in the army where smok ing is not  nonsmoking areas Are generally Small the nonsmoker is relegated to the Corner even though the nonsmoker May outnumber the smoker Bell a former smoker said. It. Col. Geneva Gotsch chief of nursing services at the air Force Hospital in Hahn Germany finds that the nonsmoker is often out of place where smokers Congre  just hate going to parties anymore she said with All those people puffing away the smell is  a pack a Day smoker referring to a to Bacco factory sergeant and heavy smok ing officers in his unit said he would like Tosee the army increase the use of smoking clinics to get More personnel to quit the habit. A nonsmoker suggested a Competition that would Reward units getting the most smokers to quit with training . Col. Martin l. Dresner urologist at the army s 97th general Hospital in Frankfurt an outspoken opponent of smok ing aggressively tries to convert smokers to the world of clean air. I see myself As the Devil s advocate. I go too far Sudsburg said. This gets Backoo the Point that people really Don t want to be told what to do. When they say they want to make smoking off limits every where that s too  Sudsburg is aware of the calculated risk taken by smokers but he still enjoys smoking. The thing about smoking particularly after a Good meal is that it gives a feeling of Complete satisfaction he says pfc. Scott Howell 2nd in 366th inf 3rd army div Calls some nonsmokers  nonsmokers overreact sure nonsmokers have a right to breathe clean air but i think they might be overreacting when they run across a room and shout at you to put out the cigarette Howell said. Howell says he enjoys the feeling of the smoke going into his lungs and he particularly likes a cigarette after a heavy physical workout. Some smokers can empathize with non smokers. I can understand where they Are coming from. When i quit smoking and i was around a cigarette it would bother me smokers feel they have a right to smoke. Nonsmokers feel just As strongly they have a right to breathe clean air. Whenever members of the two groups come together there can be problems. Some nonsmokers sign coupled with find that a polite an implied cancer warning will often turn smokers off at least for a while. Is Schuettler play it to the Hilt. Anything i can do to make cigarette smoking less convenient tothe smoker i do Dresner said. I go out of my Way to make the cigarette smoker uncomfortable. A lot of cigarette smokers have no idea How obnoxious cigarette smoking can be to people who Don t smoke. The main reason for my involvement with cigarette smoking is that i find it offensive personally and it is such a killer and yet nothing is really done about it. Cig Arette smoking is a Public menace. I need to do everything in my Power to get the message  col. Charles r. Queen chief of aeromedical services at Rhein main a Germany makes no Bones about the rights of smok ers to smoke even though he tries to get his smoking patients to quit. V a cynical View i take a cynical View of the damned thing. It s terrible the Way people abuse themselves Queen a former smoker said. But it s their right to abuse them selves if they want. The thing i object to is supporting them when their abuse make them wards of the  sgt. Robert Patrick 44th signal in Darmstadt Germany a smoker since boy Hood feels that too much pressure is put on the smoker to quit. I say if a person wants to smoke let him smoke Patrick said. He s old enough to know what he s doing. If he wants to harm himself that s his Busi  capt. Daucey Brewington an air Force Pilot at Rhein main Airlift coordinating Center says smokers Are often inconsiderate. They will ask if you object to smoking and even if you say you do they Light up and blow smoke in your face. I say if you re not going to listen to me Why do you ask sgt. David Sudsburg he & he co 1st brigade 3rd armoured div Kirch Goens Germany Points out that the Diligence of some nonsmokers in policing up after smokers can be a big turnoff. They May mean Well but some of them tremendously another smoker said. Differences Between smokers and non smokers often Are arbitrated at top com Mand Levels and usually take into account the rights of rival groups. At Hahn a Germany col. James p. Albritton commander of the 50th tactical fighter Wing says he had to consider the rights of smokers and nonsmokers in Shap ing base smoking policies. No smoking at meetings a nonsmoker Albritton forbids smoking at his own staff meetings. His decision to eliminate smoking on base shuttle buses is seen As a move to protect nonsmokers in a confined area without imposing an undue hardship on smokers. His action to limit smoking to 16-year Olds and above with parental permission Only at the Hahn Aya is a Compromise that resulted from complaints about Young children smoking in the Aya. I have to balance the rights of those who want to smoke with those who want to breathe clean air Albritton said. Today there is a greater consciousness of the rights of people to breathe clean air. On the other hand it would not be possible at this stage to ban smoking in All Public  making Progress in the . The advocates of clean air have been making steady Progress. Some states have clean air Laws that Force nonsmoking sections in restaurants and Public places. And or. William Doerr a former smoker who helps smokers kick the habit in group therapy sessions at the 97th general sees the new Laws protecting nonsmokers As just the beginning of efforts that will gradually discredit smoking. By the year 20001 think Well see smok in widely vilified Doerr  militant nonsmokers this will hardly be soon enough. For confirmed smokers it is something they simply cannot imagine happening. Tomorrow quitting How servicemen and women in Europe Are kicking the smoking habit