To think smoking should now be banned in public spaces?

[MrsKingfisher]

I saw on the news footage of people Christmas shopping in London and people sitting outside in cafes etc. Given the current situation should public smoking be banned? Not only because it stinks and it's anti social but more people are now meeting outside due to covid. I don't believe there is any evidence that breathing out smoke spreads the virus anymore than normal breathing. It's just selfish, non smokers no longer can be told 'if you don't like it go inside'

What about alcohol. The same arguments and more can be made to ban this afterall
I don't drink, well maybe one glass of fizzy on occasions and don't like drunk behaviour. But someone drinking alcohol at a table near me doesn't cause my liver to deal with the byproducts of their alcohol.

There's loads of whataboutery on things that aren't comparable like 'what about sugar...'

I believe statistically horse riding is a bigger risk to someone's health than occasional recreational drug use (I think that was Ben Goldacre who said that) but we don't see people discussing the impact of illegal drugs and drug policy saying 'but whatabout horse riding eh? Gotcha, if you want to talk about drug A then you also have to talk about banning horse riding too" because it's a fairly silly thing to do.

I think I'll go for a total ban, so no more sales and no smoking in public or outdoor spaces.

@dingledongmerrilymysky

I think I'll go for a total ban, so no more sales and no smoking in public or outdoor spaces.

Ha Ha funny, like I say good luck with it

I'll start a petition then, which is the best site to use?

let us know how you get on with that. Considering the tax brought in on smoking, and the economic state of the country right now, you have absolutely no chance of getting anywhere with that whatsoever.

Ha Ha funny, like I say good luck with it

😂

I don't smoke but am sick of hearing people whinge about it. Outside it's not going to affect you that much if you're walking past. As for sitting outside, it's December, it's cold, why would you want to sit outside?

I've started one .. I don't think I can add my petition here so I will start a thread under a new user name .. in petitions !!!

Please support me ! I need 5 supporters to go live

Remember OP when you wanted smokers banned from smoking inside? Maybe think before making rash wishes and demands in future?

You now find yourself outside where you pushed them and you don't like it? Fine. Go home and eat there.

Lol. I don't even smoke but there's no way I'd sign this. I don't believe in cancel culture, banning people for perfectly legal things that they like doing, or generally being an arsehole 🤷‍♀️

I haven't smoked for more than a decade, but people like that make me want to start again just to see their faces

I haven't smoked for more than a decade, but people like that make me want to start again just to see their faces

Me too 🤣

@Kaliorphic I'm going for a ban on sales too, so it wouldn't be totally legal. Aim for the moon !

I think they should gradually raise the legal smoking age until it's aged out of the population. I'm an ex-smoker, and when I smoked I was desperate to stop - but the addiction is a very strong one. I didn't want to be paying stupid money to see it literally go up in smoke, I didn't want to smell awful, I hated having to calculate smoking times into going to the theatre, or cinema, or anywhere that smoking wasn'ty allowed. It was bloody awful - and I suppose I had to tell myself I actually enjoyed smoking to justify the fact that I continued to do it.

We'd be doing future generations a massive favour if we made smoking illegal (though look at how well that's worked for the recreational drug industry!) - but it would be hugely cruel to suddenly turn smokers in their 50s and 60s into criminals.

What's needed s a bit of tolerance and understanding on both sides - when I smoked, I tried to consider others and never smoke near non-smoking people (not always possible, but most of the time it was). Now I don't smoke I try to be tolerant of those who do, knowing what a strong addiction it is, and how difficult it is to stop. Smoking is not immoral, it's just unfortunate.

[quote dingdongmerrilymysky]@Kaliorphic I'm going for a ban on sales too, so it wouldn't be totally legal. Aim for the moon ! [/quote]
Good luck with that! I've signed loads of petitions before, easily over a million signatures - none of them ever got anywhere.

Get a life you sad twat.

I'm going for a ban on sales too, so it wouldn't be totally legal. Aim for the moon

You are funny. Bless ya. People are so strange these days in their beliefs. Aim for the moon, fall flat on your face. Maybe get yourself a cushion for that crash landing. Did you take a look at the other people that tried to start positions, they really didn't gather much momentum. One had a massive 26 signatures. I also think that you have no chance with your little petition against the revenue brought in to the government, and the big tobacco firms themselves. Your self righteousness is very funny(to me though). So thanks for the giggle.

@Kaliorphic

I haven't smoked for more than a decade, but people like that make me want to start again just to see their faces

Me too 🤣

And me.

I think they should gradually raise the legal smoking age until it's aged out of the population

What age would that be? I've come across smokers who didn't start until after 30. Others who started before the legal age and not down to peer pressure.

@Kaliorphic

I haven't smoked for more than a decade, but people like that make me want to start again just to see their faces

Me too 🤣

Me three.

What age would that be? I've come across smokers who didn't start until after 30. Others who started before the legal age and not down to peer pressure

True. One of my friends started at 25. I don't smoke now, but I did many moons ago, for a while at age 11 and again at age 13.. Not sure how the legal age limit would have prevented that, I was already under age.

@NotImpossible

Should he walk a distance away and smoke

Yes. But many people don't, and then there is nowhere in the pub garden for non smokers to enjoy their meal.

Agree

My DF was a smoker, he would never ever sit at a table and smoke, he walked away, if people walked near him, he’d walk further away. Although I hated his smoking he was considerate to others and would never smoke near other people. If any non smokers approached him while smoking he would put it out.

P.s he died of lung cancer caused by his smoking.

I started when I was underage, my "mates" hated smoking was one of the reasons I started. Didn't really like interacting with people then either lol. Tell people to fuck off and leave you alone they don't, light up and it's amazing how non smokers move away from you

Until people start actually listening to what people are saying, not telling people how they should be thinking/feeling/acting when living in line with the laws of the country, smoking bans can fuck off.

Good thing about CV. tbh. People leave you alone when out shopping. No bloody annoying sales people hovering. Omg been in Lush lately? Can sit quietly outside and enjoy my coffee without people thinking I'm the local bloody advice info department. Even better when restaurants and that are open to customers, more seating outside for us to enjoy a coffee and a cig.

Definitely should be banned from public areas

You are walking along a pavement on the high street and have people stood outside restaurants or pubs smoking. It is try and keep your mouth shut and don't breathe in time.

Can't stand having to breathe in smoke because of other peoples rights. I have the right to not breathe in your smoke.

You are walking along a pavement on the high street and have people stood outside restaurants or pubs smoking. It is try and keep your mouth shut and don't breathe in time
Can't stand having to breathe in smoke because of other peoples rights. I have the right to not breathe in your smoke

You could always just cross over the road if you don't like it. It's quite easy.

But someone drinking alcohol at a table near me doesn't cause my liver to deal with the byproducts of their alcohol

True but if they are drunk and arsey their fists flying may cause you some bother.

True but if they are drunk and arsey their fists flying may cause you some bother.
That's them being violent though, not them consuming alcohol. Anyone being violent is a problem.

My issue is people getting into whataboutery when their 'what about...' is almost always something that others consume that doesn't release toxic byproducts into the air.