Total smoking ban in pubs and clubs - does this affect offices too?

[Enid]

So will smoking be banned in ALL public places now, or just pubs and clubs?

Non smoking sections are not always available though. And even when they are the smoke travels - a non smoking section is not really a smoke free zone, certainly not in the pubs round here anyway.

Honestly, I am just really pleased and think it will make a very pleasant change. It seems to work in Ireland okay now.

When you drink in a bar it does not affect anyones health but your own, when you smoke you force other people around you to breathe in your smoke.
I suffered years of chest complaints and asthma because of my mothers smoking. He health is shot to pieces because of it
It fair enough if you want to do it, but no way am I paying for anyone smoking habit with my or my familie health, We choose not to smoke and that means breathing other peoples too!

So they're gonna have a ban like Scotland, Ireland and N.Ireland then?

A FULL one?

I go to pubs maybe twice a year, so I can't really say the smoke bugs me that much.

I'm a former smoker.

Today I heard a great analogy - "smoke free" areas in an environment with smokers, are like "piss-free" areas in a swimming pool. (I'm sure it was phrased better than that!) smoke travels - and air has no handy chlorine in it! My dh thinks that smoking out of the window stops the children inhaling. I think that if my clothes stink when being in the same room as him when he is doing this, then my lungs, and thus the children's are almost definitely being damaged. I would like smoking banned at bus stops and train stations. I hate hate hate having to breathe other people's smoke.

still confused about offices...

dh has three hardened smokers in his workplace and despite the fact that he runs the company he doesnt want to piss them off. Hooray if it is law then he can 'pass the buck' and they can go outside for a fag. Good.

I think it will work ..never would have expected to see people standing outside in the street freezing cold smoking 15 years ago..

interesting that dp won't be able to smoke in his taxi but he would if he owned it

and you won't be able to smoke in your own home while it is the workplace of some one else eg a plumber but if you work from home you could smoke as it is your home

Selfishly, I will be glad when this happens. I hate the smell of smoke, and even if you sit in the non smoking area I can still smell it on my clothes the next day. Barff. And think what it must do to your lungs if you can detect it on your clothing

I agree with mb

selfishly I am glad as I dont smoke and hate the smell of it

but can see why people will be upset.

Isn't all this legislation just to head off the inevitable lawsuits from people who get cancer from 'secondary smoke'?

should it be 'effect'?? no surely not

iirc the law came into force in Italy in 2004 - Spain, this year

Enid the vast majority of offices have been smoke-free for years. I work in a large office-building which is mainly open plan. When I started working here in 1996 there was a smoking room provided for staff. It was totally yellow inside with the effect of the cigs. Then they decided to reclaim it as a meeting room and smokers now have the use of a porta-kabin in the car park! Now I'm not sure if this will still be allowed or not. Because I know in the nicer weather the smokers like to smoke outside the front of the building in the sunshine but the company frowns on this because it portrays a bad image to visitors, passing traffic etc.

I dont think its law though bozza

I think that is just company policy

dh wants a law! so that he can pass the buck

I used to smoke until I got pregnant .

But then I used to go out before I got pregnant.

So this ban will not affect me in the slightest.

Although, I could pencil 2007 in for a life.

Enid it will be banned in workplaces from 2007, but now each company is expected to have a smoking policy which is initiated by the boss but arrived at ideally through consultation and then implemented after a three month period.

I think it's a shame. If most of the people who frequent pubs wanted a smoke free environment then wouldn't landlords have chosen to ban smoking without it being enforced.

This iwll mean I will give up my last odd ciggarettes. I only smoke on occassion when I go out for a drink. I count myself as a non-smoker. This ban will mean I will give up totally as I am not that desparate to smoke, it's only seems a good idea when drunk!!

so a good thing then crunchie ?

But Enid I thought that Hula's post suggested that the law that your DH wants has now been passed. I was surprised though that your DH is still allowing smoking in his office.

I was actually wondering if they would still be allowed to smoke in the porta-kabin or if they would have to smoke outside now.

I can't wait. I'm one of those terrible creatures: a holier than thou ex-smoker, and I can't bear smoky atmospheres now. I went in my local for a drink the other night and I stank of smoke when I came out.

(Rarely post but just thought I needed to say something regarding the refernces to customers wanting to smoke and having smoke free zones).

The banning of smoking in public places in Ireland is not presented as a case of doing what the customer whats or needs but it being about how it affects the people who have no choice but to be in that environment - the workers. The first concern should be how being constantly in that smoky atmosphere for 8-10 hours a day will affect the health of any bar-worker. ( I think that does make it a bit easier to sell as an absolute good thing)
Although they truly thought it wouldnt work in Ireland it has. However the fact cannot be avoided that it has truly affected bar trade - more and more people chose to drink at home. Though this is partly due to the price of drink in the pubs here.