For years I’ve known of the health effects of Guinness. A thick creamy head, rich roasted malts and a silky smoothness. The “Guinness for your health” signs I saw on my recent trip to Ireland were just a verification for what I’d been telling my bride for years — ‘really honey, it’s a health food’.

But now the smoke-free pubs where I enjoyed a Guinness in Ireland are being validated as being healthier than our American bars and it should be no surprise as to why.

A recent Harvard study showed that American bars have nearly 20 times the air pollution that pubs in Ireland have. Is it any wonder why European countries are quickly moving to disallow smoking in public areas?

But this is a larger issue in Europe where a universal healthcare is government funded. Here, there is a disconnect between costs and services. Healthcare costs here not regulated by the government but in Europe where the government pays the cost of healthcare, it only makes sense that the government would do what it can to reduce higher costs as well as risk factors that lead to those costs.

Unfortunately this St. Patrick’s Day I’ll have to endure the air pollution as I go in search of the perfect pint. Now if only Harvard would publish a study proving that a daily dose of creamy Guinness would prevent heart disease, freshen your breath and trim your waistline, the world would be a better place. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for that one.

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Links: Harvard School of Public Health: Irish Pubs Under Smoke-free Law in Ireland Show 91% Lower Indoor Air Pollution Than ‘Irish Pubs’ in Cities Around the World
Harvard School of Public Health: The Study - How Smoke-free Laws Improve Air Quality - A Global Study of Irish Pubs
Smoke Free Wisconsin: Healthier to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Smoke-Free Irish Pub

Hot Tip: The best ventilated bar I know of is McBob’s which incidentally also makes the best corned beef in town. They’re on about 50th and North and because of a fan above their grill, much of the smoke in the place gets sucked out during the hours their grill is still open. If you know of another bar with great ventilation, or better yet a smoke-free policy, please be sure to comment on this story and leave the name and address of the pub.