News item: Princess Cruises to prohibit smoking in staterooms and on balconies. You know what this really means, don’t you?
Democracy’s at work.
The decision by Princess — likely to become the industry standard — is the result of consumer studies. It will take effect early next year.
“Smokers are a small minority of our customers,” says Executive Vice-President Jan Swartz, “and the large majority of passengers value having their primary living space onboard smoke-free.”
Because we have always lived in a democracy, we’ve always tried to subscribe to “majority rules” even in this age where often “minority rules” because the minority has the loudest voices or the squeakiest wheels. In this case, Princess is responding to changing customer preferences.
Remember when restaurants and office buildings were doing the same thing (even if it was in many cases legislated)? There was an outcry from smokers. Today, it is accepted.
The same thing will soon happen on the seas…everywhere.