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 don't know why they don't ban them altogether. That would keep young people from getting hooked in the first place

Nicotine is highly addictive yes but what most people forget is it DOES NOT kill you if you stop smoking. 'Be grateful you are not struggling with it', oh dear smoking is something that in some point in your life you CHOSE to start doing and making it sound like an illness you can't do anything about is just wrong. People struggle with all types of illness that they had no control over, these are the ones to feel sorry for, not the poor smokers who are 'struggling' with the addiction of nicotine.

I used to smoke by the way and i gave up, it's not that difficult and i didn't die!

Havent read the whole thread because it is too long. However whilst I am really pleased I can go to my local pub and have glass of wine in a smoke free environment etc I do wonder where this is going. I don't like smoking at all, have never smoked and would neverlet anyone smoke in my house however I feel that perhaps this law is just another way of the Labour party controlling people even more. if this is such a big problem why not ban cigarette companies? Frankly seems to me that drug taking is a much much bigger problem today.

I have never smoked and I am very glad. But it is horribly addictive. More so than heroin. people literally smoke themselves to death, watch their legs cut off one by one because of it, see their parents die of lung cancer, know it will damage their babies, and still carry on smoking. I'm not sure you can just call that their 'choice' - it is clearly a powerful addiction.
And that's another reason to support a ban - it will help people trying to beat their addiction.

We will all soon forget you could ever smoke in these places. It will seem as odd and remote as the days you could smoke on the bus and tube.

Oh it all looks quite serious here, and I haven't read the thread, is too long and too much about tax.

Probably it's a good thing, though it has been my general experience that usually all the best people smoke. I don't know why, but usually they are by far the jolliest and funniest people, and at least now we'll know where they all are and can go and join them.

Ahem. Thank you. I'll be moving on now.

It will help those trying to give Aloha, you're right- and most friends of mine (not all) who smoke want to give up. Always tomorrow, though.

Thing is- its hard yes- but pople do give up. Mum did it in a week, Dad took a decade on and off- but they did give up. As did the in-laws. Its just BIl who hasn't, ehich is a terrible shame as he is so ill already through it- he's on antio biotics for chest infections almost continuously (severely asthmatic). A 30 year old who can't work for a month or more a year is a sad story indeed.

I don't understand why people smoke really because I never have and think it looks and smells absolutely horrible. But I do accept it is powerfully addictive.

For although I don't live there.
As others have mentioned we've had the ban in Ireland for a couple of years now. It does create a whole different drinking culture. First off you can smell peoples body odour a lot more and when someone lets a fart go after 7 pints of Guinness you know all about it and don't have the pleasant (comparatively) buffer of smoke to disguise the smell.

Everyone gathers outside to smoke and the group outside becomes a real pick up area. It's a pain if you're a non-smoker and the person you're with is a smoker because you're left on your own but the good thing is your clothes don't stink after a night out and somehow that makes you feel less rough the next morning. Don't know why.

It doesn't take very long at all to over come the craving of nicotine, i think it's more the habits you get are the hard thing to stop. Like having a ciggy with coffee, doing it at certain places, times etc and the holding it in your hand.

Cant wait. Our local pub, not even a horrible one, still stinks like smoke if no one is smoking. makes your clothes reek eerk

Smokers usually always look unwell, too, IMVHO.

Exactly Aloha. ON all indices (eg buying cigarettes over food, awareness of risks, costs of all types, being edgy if one runs out) nicotine scores over heroin. But people are individuals and quitting affects them differently. I had palpitations, tight-chestedness, nausea, sleeplessness , but saw it all through "cold turkey". Others are luckier.
I didn't say it was an illness one couldn't do anything about. And as for causing death?? The cancers can pop up decades after one has stopped. The stats start stacking up against survival the longer one smokes over the age of 40.
And peeps DO struggle with it. When questioned, the vast majority wished to stop, and regret they ever started.

Yes the cancers do pop up years later, but thats because you smoked, not because you gave up.

i dont smoke, but i am against this ban

yes I know.....??

whyquit.com needs a visit from anyone wishing to quit.

Excellent point by VVVQV for all those tempted to use the revenue argument.

as a reformed smoker, I am totally, utterly and convincedly

against the ban

The argument I've heard most is 'it's our right to smoke' but I just think people have more of a right to clean air really.

DS1 works in a pub several nights a week. He stinks when he gets in, and his eyes are often red and streaming after a weekend night.

He is counting the minutes until Sunday (when he will be working, that'll be a fun night I suspect )

Your right to clean air, is very valid, do you drive?

My right to smoke in an enclosed 'smoking' pub (as I have said earlier, nowhere else) is as much of a right as yours!

I don't drive, I have a driving licence but choose not to as it's healthier.

Well, the NHS is struggling, but not 'because people are not looking after their own health'. ITs probably due to lots of reasons eg mismanagement, people living longer due to healthier lives, new drugs being developed etc.......

it's due to layers of fucking useless bureacracy

or..or..or....that as well.

Lets ban driving then and buying cheap imports from China because they are polluting your air as well.