Banning smoking outdoors?

[MrsMerryHenry]

Did anyone else hear about this on R4 (PM programme) this evening? I can't find an article about it anywhere. Is this a serious proposal?

It does make me when smokers complain about infringement of civil liberties over this issue. I don't believe I have ever heard a smoker talk about non-smokers' civil liberties being infringed every time someone lights up. And non-smokers have been putting up with second-hand smoke for about as long as humans have walked the earth. So although a very small part of me feels a wee bit sorry for smokers, that they're being pushed into a corner, the rest of me goes "ROFLROFLROFL it's about time."

[Knickers0nmaChoppedOffhead]

So, smoker's won't be able to smoke anywhere then? Great. Just Fab. I smoke, on occasion now. I do not smoke inside my home and don't really smoke out in public anymore.

So, where are we meant to smoke then?

Stupid imho

[alwayslookingforanswers]

ermm - so where are we allowed to smoke?? can't smoke inside, can't smoke outside.........

[Frrrightattendant]

I would be utterly relieved if they stopped it on all NHS premises. Our hospital has a no smoking in its grounds policy, but just down the road, we are next door to a residential rehab where the smoking area is right outside our bloody door...they had to put it outside since the law came in last July

I don't understand why we have to put up with being poisoned, have to keep my son's window shut, etc, because they have a 'right' to smoke ffs.

[Frrrightattendant]

Always I guess they can't ban it in people's homes.

[violethill]

If you choose to smoke, perhaps you should be doing it in your home, that's the point!

If you don't want to make your own house stink, or expose other people in your house to your smoke, perhaps you are half way to understanding why other people don't want your pollution in public places, indoor or out.

I honestly believe that these days there are just no excuses. The knowledge that cigarettes are toxic has been around for literally decades. It used to be the case that there was a generation of smokers who always argued that when they took it up, there was no warning of the dangers. Not so now.

If you choose to smoke, do it under your own roof. If you find that thought too unpleasant, maybe it'll motivate you to pack it in!

[Frrrightattendant]

There are people in the world of whom I am very very fond, and who smoke...I don't think they are evil for smoking but I do think it is unfair and wrong to impose their poisonous habit on people who don't.

I have smoked in the past but I always felt incredibly guilty walking past people with children in the high street for example. I didn't smoke much as it was, but it never felt OK to inflict it on other people. Especially kids.

[purepurple]

Good post violethill

[insertwittynicknameHERE]

Surely they cant stop you smoking in your own home or garden, you know on private properties weather it be inside or out.

I don't smoke and am a bit at this, how on earth will they 'police' it.

[QOD]

I am MUCH more affected by smoke since the ban! When my work place had a smoking room, apart from occasionally getting stuck in a lift with a stinking person, I was unaffected.
Now the poor buggers are forced outside, I have to walk through a fug, stepping over fag butts to get to the car park.
My dh smokes, outside the back door, you know I have never wondered if the poor neighbour gets affected!

[VinegARGHHHTits]

I really hope they ban smoking outdoors

I went to visit my nan in hospital yesterday, there were about 10 people outside the entrance, smoking, i had to walk through a cloud of smoke to get inside

[Frrrightattendant]

Whenever i think about having another baby, I realise I couldn't even if I wanted to, because every time I went in the garden or out of the front door i would just be sick because of the smoke pouring over from next door. Can't believe an NHS establishment allows it tbh. I realised someone was smoking ganga the other weke and rang up the manager - he came down to have a look but of course they had buggered orf and hidden it by then.

It makes me furious we have to put up with it.

[TitsalinaBumsquash]

I really hope they do ban it in the streets, its horrible walking down the steet and getting a lungfull of smoke from some stinky person who feels the need to share.

I kind of thought they should make like big, big, phone box type thingys in the middle of the towns for people to smoke in so its away from us non smokers but they still get to indulge in thier dirty habit then again i suppose its just more tax payers money being used for someone elses vices.

I personally think if you wanna smoke do it at home.

[2shoes]

one question......
who would police it??

[TitsalinaBumsquash]

I don't know who would police it, i have called the non emergency police after seeing the same person smoking inside a business several times i don't know if they did anything.

I have called security countless times and had people removed who were smoking in the garden outside the pediatric block of the hospital where smoking is banned.

Smmoking is banned in the whole grounds of our hospital but staff anf visitors/patients still smoke in the gardens and outside areas, it really riles me i always have a pop with something along the lines of

'did you stop to think that just above your head is a little boy with a severe respitory condition who is now coughing because of your shitty habit, now walk the short distance until your out of ground and poisin yourself there you selfish bastard'

It moves them along pretty quickly tbh.

[shinyblackhair]

Call me cynical 2 shoes but if there's a fine involved and money to be made by someone it will be policed vigorously!

[Weegle]

Well I am an ex-smoker and I think it's a good idea. No matter how you look at it smoking is not a good thing for anyone and therefore shouldn't be imposed on people who don't even choose to smoke. Since the ban came in force I have found pub gardens a nightmare - we would enjoy a lunch in them in the summer because of the children's play area yet you'd really get the smoke coming over from other tables... or our favourite cafe the outside tables are now effectively smokers tables, and it's just not pleasant when you're eating, let alone not thinking it right for the children to be exposed to the smoke - still in a public place. Also our neighbour's son smokes outside their backdoor (presumably because he isn't allowed to smoke in the house) and the smell wafts in through our kitchen and in to the house if we just have the window open, or worse, on to our washing.

Smokers need to be considerate. Smoke in your own house if you so choose, but if you're outside it doesn't mean you're not affecting anyone and doing the 'right' thing at all.

[rosieposey]

Im a non smoker and i hate the smell but this is getting ridiculous, i completely understand how non smokers don't like the smell and the health implications are such that anyone that smokes is pretty stupid, however i am concerned about freedom of choice - at the risk of getting flamed my concern is more about the government (EU) dictating and i think it is just a small step now till they move on to food (of the high fat variety) and alcohol. Are we not capable of making our own choices? Smoking belongs away from non smokers but to ban it completely just smacks of governmental tyranny.

In Spain from what i can gather there is a choice that publicans can make as to whether to make their premises smoking or non smoking - surely this gives people a choice and would go some way to stop as many pubs going out of business as there are currently.

I reiterate i don't support smoking in public places but i do think that there should be somewhere aside from their own homes that people who smoke are able to do so - i hated being smoked around but when the smoking ban came in i was surprised that it was total as i thought it was just going to be in premises that served food. You shouldn't inflict carcinogens on people its not fair but by the same token i think there is room to cater for everyones wants and needs.

[violethill]

I don't think anyone is saying ban it completely, and you couldn't anyway, so long as cigarettes continue to be manufactured and sold. People are just saying if you want to do it, do it in your own home.

[WinkyWinkola]

There are all sorts of smells outside. Car fumes, takeaways, fag smoke, in Edinburgh there's that vile yeasty smell from the breweries.....I don't think it makes sense to legislate against fag smoke outside really.

It is rank though, it has to be said.

[purepurple]

ww, it's not the smell though is it?
It's the effect smoking has on people's health and the drain that treating them has on the NHS.
We could all cope with a smell.

[2shoes]

shinyblackhair you mean like throwing litter/ riding bikes on pavements/ talking on mobile whilst driveing?
yes cos they are policed(and all involve fines)

[preciouslillywhite]

I'm an ex-smoker, and I think anything that pushes folk to smoke only on their own property (possibly in front of/on same premises as kids) is both ill thought out and ridiculous.

[WinkyWinkola]

Yeah but car fumes are also detrimental to health. I think the air is pretty much polluted with or without fag smoke tbh. I just don't think it's a big enough issue to pass legislation against it personally.

You can't smoke in pubs/restaurants/trains/planes - where people can't move away or shouldn't have to move and I think that's enough.

[FabBakerGirlHasHadEnough]

I would be so happy for smoking to be banned in public.

[theagedparent]

I hope they do ban it outside, It is so horrible to have to walk behind someone smoking with it wafting in your face.