So, this smoking ban............how many of you are for it, and how many against?

[VeniVidiVickiQV]

If you are against it - why are you?

i am a smoker and for it. as it will be asier as at the moment no one knows what they can do and what they can't

er so is alcohol zookeeper, kills more people than heroin and fags.

alcohol isnt addictive if used as it is intended- therein lies the difference I think

not that I would mourn overly if alcohol were banned, i do drink but rarely (never alone and dh usually works evenings)

FOR

For. Absolutely positively FOR.

There's no such thing as passive drinking. Someone drinking alcohol doesn't force you to partake in it as well does it?

Ultimately we all do things at some point which others will disagree with; I don't think anyone, smokers included, have come on and said they disagree with the ban - full stop.

What we are saying is that yes, we agree it shouldn't be forced on non-smokers and it is disgusting if you don't smoke, I know because I gave up for 2-3 years when pg and bf. However, why shouldn't we be allowed a few pubs where we are allowed to smoke and non-smokers can choose not to frequent.

To then say, as some of you have, that you shouldn't even be permitted to smoke outside I feel is being greedy and a little ridiculous! You've already got the majority of public places because you've won the ban and it'll be here soon but I did like the idea of having smoking and non-smoking parts of a beer garden.... think I shall have a trip to France and open it up in my own garden!!

But Wisteria, if you're talking about a village pub, then there may not be any choice for someone working behind the bar - the landlord could take a 'accept it or get out' attitude, and in a village there may well not be another option. How many teenagers are going to pass up a regular job?

Don't honestly see why going out for a drink means you also have to fill your lungs and other people's with poisonous fumes.

Because a "ban" that allows establishments to opt out (thus providing the Smoking Pubs you mention) would not work at all.

I'm fairy certain that smokers wouldn't be impressed if people came and sat next to them farting noxious gas so why should non-smokers be forced to endure the same? I would LOVE to have smoking banned in all but the smoker's private residence but I'm not thatradical or militant

SD - me too, possibly even in gardens as it drifts over the fence, but I don't think that would EVER get through!

I agree Tortoiseshell and am not talking about every pub but just a few would be good - to be given the choice.
I appreciate your point about working but don't feel it would be too hard for landlords to find people who don't mind and are prepared to sign a disclaimer.. and there are plenty of other pubs out there which would be non-smoking or other jobs suitable.

It's a moot point anyway as I will abide by the ban and there's nothing anyone can do about it now anyway... bring on the patio heaters!

i think a staggered ban would maybe work for the old working men's clubs type places.

I'm not convnced that smokers really understand just how unpleasent the smell is, if you don't smoke. I know that my parents used to get really huffy about it.

When we used to visit them all our clothes used to reak, even if they had stayed in the suitcase.

It really is a horrible smell

I'm fairy certain that smokers wouldn't be impressed if people came and sat next to them farting noxious gas

Never been in our local then SD!! Some of the local farmers give the heifers competition..

so do you want to ban pubs mosschops?

You see, I have been pondering this whole 'Nanny State' declaration about this.

We all know that smoking is bad for our health. And yet, people still do it. Why? Because they want to? Really? Isn't it not simply because they are addicted. Could they just 'stop' if they didnt enjoy anymore? Not without some effort and willpower.

So, do we allow 'choice' on the basis of folk wanting a decision because they are 'addicted'? Surely that removes some rationality in their argument? So, Nanny State.......perhaps, although I dont much care for the name, it is needed, to protect ALL of us?

Also, with regard to comments about how much revenue tax brings in: One of the factors that taxes are raised is to assist our crumbling NHS. WHy is it crumbling? Is it because people who arent taking care of themselves as they should are putting undue pressure on services? Now, someone can eat the wrong foods, but, ultimately they are responsible for that. Parents who feed their children 'bad' foods - well - the Government is trying to tackle that (well, being cajoled to by Jamie Oliver et al).

But smoking, well, yes, that regular purchase of a packet of cigarettes may cover the cost of a smoker's future health bill. Chemotherapy is quite costly, but, not all smokers get cancer. Although, they are more prone to asthma, emphesima (sp), heart disease, high cholesterol and many many many other illnesses and conditions.

But, its not just the smoker who is affected by smoke. It is the people around who suffer the effects. Children and asthma as mentioned earlier on, and of course passive smokers are open to as many of the health risks that smokers are. But, they arent paying towards this apparent huge bundle of tax, are they? So, does the tax really cover it?

i think atm a little lenience (sp!) to the older generation would be a good thing. eventually smoking will become a thing of the past, like chewing tobacco. but it will take time. it seems unfair to force pensioners to quit their small pleasure even if it is smoking, down the pub.

MB I kn ow what you mean about the smell- I have a friend who is convinced a mint and half a bottle of eprfume covers her pack a day habit. It doesn't- but she'll never have it!

I know what poele mean about tax- but although it might (or may? I'm not the chancellor, who knows?) not be as much as revenues lost on fags, the lack of illness related expenditure willa dd up- not just NHS, my BIL for example as a 30 year old asthmatic smoker loses 30 days work a year. And after the cost of chaemo there's other services and the long term effects on kids health. even on birth weights etc.

I like sex, but I don't think I should be allowed to do it at the pub!

picking up VVVQV's point on addiction, nicotine IS just about THE most addictive of drugs.

And, we know that some drugs are mind-altering...well, nicotine should be considered one such, but isn't. It tells you you can't drink alcohol, drive, do some work requiring concentration, have sex, eat a meal, make a telephone call, be with someone else who is smoking.......without having a cigarette!! And this is nonsense. Quitting is a monumental effort. I know this. But, that is no reason to not ban it as proposed.

and answer your emails.........

I am in the process of...but I may be interrupted in a moment by dinner......

havn't read all the posts. they have banned it here in NZ and there was a huge uproar with a few landlords arrested. I think they protested too loudly, they were from a small community and there are probably small community pubs ignoring the ban around the country but imo once the dust settled everybody is for it, even smokers. Dh gave up last year after nearly 30 years of smoking because he couldn't be bothered to catch the lift down to go and stand outside and couldn't smoke in the pub etc.

can't wait for smoking ban, and also can't wait until I have the right to shout at stupid twats who stand outside doors to have their nasty fags, and let their disgusting putrid smelly smoke blow in through the door. They are revoltingly stupid, don't know the first thing about convection currents (draughts) and deserve to die young. Ha, that felt good!sorry if I have offended you, but I hate what you do, so there.

you're not sorry at all. To wish death on young people is pretty awful. Nicotine is highly addictive. Be grateful you are not struggling with it.