Smoking Ban

[philsugrue]

Smoking in restaurant/pub/ *cage* whilst people are eating annoys me the most.

Cage?

You haven't been sneaking into the zoo for your dinner again have you? Those pesky smoking monkeys, hey.

   

Beware.....The  Animal Liberation Front are just around the corner            

[James]

I am a non smoker but I dont agree with this ban, I think that it is wrong to force people to do what the majority seem in favour of based on fashion at that time, the pendulum had swung to far over to the pro smoking lobby but now it seems to be swinging to far in the other direction why cant we strike a sensible common sence ballance in between the two

I dont like the smell and the stentch of my clothes when I come back from the pub but its my choice to go, I do think a ban in resturants is a good idea but everywhere else is going to far, smoking areas can work with good air conditioning.

My wife tells me that the NHS are now saying that if a member of there staff has to do a home visit then not only are the owners of the home not alowed to smoke whilst there employees are there but they are not permited to smoke in there own home for up to an hour before the NHS turn up because the "Smell" is offensive       whats ironic about this is that I think doctors and nurses must be the heviest smokers

[Blatman]

whats ironic about this is that I think doctors and nurses must be the heviest smokers

You have the statistics to back this claim up of course...

[Mrs Westy]

I dont like the smell and the stentch of my clothes when I come back from the pub but its my choice to go.

Exactly...so why should my choice to go be infringed upon by people who want to smoke?  If they want to adopt that unhealthy choice then they can do so outside where it isn't affecting anyone else.

PS I agree with everything Boomy has said.

PPS Having separated smoking/non smoking areas doesn't work, I still come home from a pub smelling of smoke and feeling that I can't breathe as freely, even if there is a designated non-smoking area.  I bet if you put an air quality monitor in a non-smoking area it would still have elevated levels of smoking nasties.  Obviously it's better than it all being entirely smoking but not perfect.

[James]

whats ironic about this is that I think doctors and nurses must be the heviest smokers

You have the statistics to back this claim up of course...

Go and stand outside your local hospital and then tell me different    

[James]

I dont like the smell and the stentch of my clothes when I come back from the pub but its my choice to go.

Exactly...so why should my choice to go be infringed upon by people who want to smoke?  If they want to adopt that unhealthy choice then they can do so outside where it isn't affecting anyone else.

PS I agree with everything Boomy has said.

PPS Having separated smoking/non smoking areas doesn't work, I still come home from a pub smelling of smoke and feeling that I can't breathe as freely, even if there is a designated non-smoking area.  I bet if you put an air quality monitor in a non-smoking area it would still have elevated levels of smoking nasties.  Obviously it's better than it all being entirely smoking but not perfect.

At the end of the day if you choose to goto a pub then you have alway's traditionaly acepted that there will be smoking there, you must have acepted this because you still choose to go, people have smoked in pubs for a very long time surley the best compromise for both camps would be set areas wich are well air conditioned, I have a good food pub local to me the smoking area is at the back of the pub and the non smoking is a the front, you cannot smell the smoke in the non smoking area not only this but on a few occasions I have had to sit in the smoking section with my familly and I still couldent smell it beacuse there ventilation is so good.

All I am saying is why cant we reach a sensible compromise that will keep every one moderatly happy, instead of this redicullous swing from one end to the other.

[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

This government has, for some time, taken the view that principles are not what matter. They ask, through 'focus groups', what policies will make the people vote for them and then they magically become New Labour's policies. It is what one might call 'government by market survey'. What happened to genuine beliefs, I don't know.

All that said. I'm happier in a smoke free environment. Pubs used to have sawdust on the floor, a gent's that was a shed out the back, spitoons (the better pubs, anyway ) and didn't serve food. That was then, this is.....

[MAT1800]

why cant we reach a sensible compromise that will keep every one moderatly happy, instead of this redicullous swing from one end to the other.

Because, all 'most' politicians seem to care about (IMO) is winning votes and keeping their jobs. Swinging is one of their key ways of doing this.

That's why we have one daft law after another (such as some of the recent 'counter terrorism' laws) and little thought about the future impact. It's easier to make a law, win the votes and then leave the mess to the next lot to sort out. No enough people fighting for what they belive in. It's been said  many times before but we are now led by focus groups etc.

And whilst I've got the soapbox out.    

One vote with a population in the millions makes no different what-so-ever, if you want to change the system you need to get invloved, 'voting' is just a great technique to make people believe they can make a difference, rather than blowing them selves up, or actually getting up and trying to sort it.

Large Multi-national corporations have far more affect on our lives than voting does, because they pay for the election campaigns. No large corporation would pay thousands, or even millions into election campaigns for nothing. If they did there share prices would plummet. And if a large Multi-national can get a MP or minister on the payroll, even better, just ask British American Tobbacco, worked for decades..

 

[Matt Seabrook]

I think it was said when smoking was to be band in planes at least for short hall that it would kill the tourist industry dont look like thats happened. When people get used to the fact that they cant smoke in pubs normality will be restored. People may protest by staying away for a bit but it will not last long.

[oldman]

Ban the ban  

I think Suzi Quatro sang that?  

No it was Sam the Sham and the Pharohs  

Kinell eh!Sham the Sham  

[jeff oakley]

Somebody asked in this long thread how will it be policed? Well it will be policed not by the police but by the enviromrntal health people, it is an easy thing to do you won't have to chase anyone, you won't have to do detective work as there will be many who will be happy to shop none conforming pubs, and if they get caught there will be an easy route to extort money from the pubs, pay up or loose your licence.

As for the NHS yes there are lots of smokers but no more than any similar groups except they above all should see the danger. There is a rule that says if you get caught in uniform, or in NHS grounds or on residential NHS courses you are subjected to diciplinary action.

It does seem over the top especially when the bars in the parliment buildings are not subject to a ban as they are crown properties and therefore are exempt.

[Thrustyjust]

I don't think that smoking in public places should be banned.I am a non-smoker and hate the smell of fags on my clothes.Its a repulsive habit,but so is chocolate( you should see my waisteline) I will probably die in a larger than normal box on gas mark 19,rather than Joe Average at 10.But that IS MY CHOICE .I believe that certain pubs etc should be classed as smoking and others non-smoking.Let people have the chioce,rather than a load of tw&ts waving theirpapers and grunting.Time will tell wether people want smoking or non-smoking,as the pubs that don't have clients will change the other way(whichever).The people never choose anymore and as long as the current government let all those 'asylum seekers' in,we won't be able to change government,as they tell their mates to vote for them to keep them in,for the next boatload.(soap box time).Let people smoke.Whats going to be next as everybody says.Tax losses,means more stealth taxes,to bring in the revenue.All I wish of smokers is to respect food places and others around that don't smoke and most do.

[oldman]

Smoke gets in your eyes....who sang that then  

[pistonbroke]

Smoke gets in your eyes....who sang that then  

Joan of Arc  

[Boomy]

All I wish of smokers is to respect food places and others around that don't smoke and most do.

You would prefer to enjoy what a food place has to offer without the need to breath in other peoples smoke right?.

What about the people who would prefer to enjoy a specific pub minus the same thing?.

Both offer ways to relax and enjoy food and drink.Should people be forced to go further afield to enjoy a smoke free enviroment?.Or should they just have to continue suffering in silence as they do now?.

Not so long ago you could smoke on buses, on the tube/trains, in taxis, in the cinema etc etc etc.

Maybe non smokers should of just stayed indoors so peoples habits could continue.

There just isn't a great deal of middle ground as far as i see it today.

It all comes down to the fact that fags stink and can cause people harm, so why should people be allowed to force those sets of circumstances onto others in any enviroment.

I'm no angel by the way, i have smoked in pubs etc but always in what i would call a more sensible manner, well,  if there is such a thing as a sensible smoker.

I do agree though that where possible some sort of smokers shelter out in a car park etc may of been a better way to approach this for now.

Anyway, this is a quote from someone i know on another forum, so who knows, maybe it won't turn out to be too bad after all.

"Wow deja vu here big time.

As many of you no doubt know I'm based in ROI and we had the smoking ban come in 2 years ago. There was a lot, an awful lot of uproar about it with arguments left right and centre about how the pubs would loose money etc etc. 2 years on and everyone has forgotten about it and pubs are doing fine. I used to smoke for about 8 yrs. Gave up a over 2 years ago and the odd time I go nout now it is great not to have smoke in the pubs and all my m8s (most are smokers) agree this too. It's the right thing to so and sooner of later people will see that. Glad to see it is coming into UK. Every time we go out in public in Wales we are choking with all the smoke so be nice to see it go away soonish!"