The European Commission (EC) has cleared the way for companies to refuse to hire people who smoke, ruling that the European Union's anti-discrimination laws don't apply to smokers, the Associated Press reported Aug. 7.

An Irish call center recently advertised a job opening with the caveat "smokers need not apply," prompting an inquiry to the EC. "Our anti-discrimination legislation for the workplace covers four areas -- age, disability, religion or belief and sexual orientation. Then, in general, the rules cover gender and race, and that's it," said Katharina von Schnurbein, a spokesperson for the EC's Employment and Social Affairs Commission.

She added: "There are a lot of things this doesn't cover -- you could say I don't want an alcoholic working for me, whatever."

No plans are currently in effect to alter the law, said von Schnurbein.