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'm against it. I don't even consider myself a serious smoker, I can go without a cigarette for months on end. I don't really have a reason why I'm agaisnt it, but I am.

I smoke myself but I'm all for this ban. I smoke outside anyway. I agree with the health issues but alcohol causes as many, if not more illnesses and costs to the NHS. Alcohol will be the next target!

yes but if you drink you are only affecting your own health, not of those around you.

well alcohol isn't exactly a different story. I think it costs the governement lots of money to deal with antisocial behaviour caused by binge-drinking.

I am FOR IT!

and good post ruty

am for it , do smoke though

I'm so glad this ban is going into effect Sunday, and hope it is extended in the future to the outdoor beer gardens also.

If people want to kill themselves by smoking....fine...but they have no right to harm my child and family. They can stay home and smoke, or I'm okay with private bars where they have to pay a membership to smoke if they want, but public places should be off limits.

Maybe one day, they'll have laws here like some places in the US where no smoking is allowed within so many feet from a public entrance. That keeps smokers from congegrating outside a business.

Yes, it's funny about the glass-enclosed smoking rooms in some airports. Many of these have closed in the US because people are too embarrassed to be seen smoking in the 'fishbowl' and when they weren't being used they were eliminated. A close friend of mind said the 'fishbowls' helped her to realize how nasty smoking was and she finally quit.

Don't know if this is a problem here yet, but smokers have a much harder time selling their homes in the US in some places because of the stench, and they often sell below value. Yes, smoking is highly addictive, but at least the NHS pays for stop-smoking programs, and you don't have to pay for it yourself.

I am for it.

I went for a meal this week in a pub that I regularly eat in with friends -it was the first time I've been there since that particualr place went no smoking and it was great.

It meant I didn't have to put up with smokey clothes stinking out the wash basket and I didn't have to wash my hair in the morning to get the smell of smoke out of my hair.

The glass bowls in airports are enough to stop anyone, I didn't smoke for 3 days after going into one of those; needless to say I got straight back out and didn't partake..

in Ireland, the ban was brought in as employment law, to protect the health of bar workers rather than other drinkers in teh pub. THat makes more sense to me, cause of course you always have a choice on where to drink, but if you get a job behind the bar of a "smoking" pub, you're breathing that crap for eight hours a night, which is not good.

It did change the social dynamic though. And there are some pubs where the owner and half teh regulars are smokers, so it doesn't make sense. and some pubs have closed, though that's more to do with imposition of drink-driving laws than the smoking ban. All in all, though, a great thing. Cigarette consumption is down, and a study has shown an improvement in the health of bar workers

Even if you are a smoker it's no the end of smoking when you're out for a drink if you really want to. All the more popular pubs round us (that had the space) improved their beer gardens and have outdoor heaters for the winter. Smoking outside is more pleasant anyway.

I disagree that a smoker has as much right to smoke in public as I have to breathe clean air. Breathing is, dare I say it, a necessity of life. Smoking wasn't last time I looked. And thank you very much for paying for my treatment for lung cancer, should I need it, keep your money, and don't give me lung cancer!

We do drive, but try to be as green as possible - walking or cycling where we can (dh cycles to work every day, I walk the school run etc). We drive a clean diesel car.

It's not a good argument to say 'just because there is other pollution, lets not try and cut any of it down.' We might as well all give up now. Why do we all try and recycle/cut emissions when it is so futile? Because every little thing helps.

Drinking is not the same as smoking - don't think anyone has died of passive drinking. Obviously there are problems associated with drinking, but much more with the 'Saturday night out in town' type rather than 'quiet pint in the village pub'. So tackle the specific problems.

I am SO SO happy about the ban!

Im a smoker and am all for it. Has been banned in Scotland for a while now and i manage just fine. Smoke less so that is a good thing.

some random attacks on passers by have been caused by 'passive drinking'

But southeastastra - isn't that more to do with drinking to excess, rather than just a couple of drinks? Whereas every cigarette is poisonous. That's exactly why I said to tackle the problems of drinking to excess.

Well, saw a documentary recently, and apparently millions of pounds are spent to tackle binge drinking. I will not use this argument to justify smoking in pubs, though.

apparently more and more people like to drink in eccess, and the feqw times I go out at night I'm more concerned by unpleasant things I can witness than breathing smoke.

I'm so happy about it. I used to smoke and understand that booze and fags go very well together but am so pleased they are being forced apart. I'm pleased for me as an ex smoker and I'm pleased for DP who is still a smoker.

Last time Iw as out my eyes stung and an hour in and I was coughing, all due to nasty smoke, - bleugghhhhh, gross.

Not sure how on earth they will stop people lighting up in nightclubs but happy for them to try at least.

FOR

AMAZINGLY, the only person to have been fined for smoking in a public place was some old git in a boozer. there was no excuse for him not to go outside, apparently, apart from being a stubborn old goat.

and that includes the thousands of people who go clubbing every weekend, who cannot go outside for a smoke.

on a lighter note, I'm told that many love stories have blossomed since the ban in Italy amongst people congregating to smoke outside...

There is no reasoned argument that can be given to be against a ban that protects the health of millions. Not a one.

And any argument that a smoker does comes up with, well, as I said before, its coloured by the fact that you are hopelessly addicted, and probably deluded. Thus, I simply cannot take it seriously.

MB, I hope this thread hasnt upset you too much my lovely. x

hopelessly addicted thanks no hope then

In our area, we have wardens wandering around with hidden cameras about their person, watching folk who drop litter. That includes cigarette butts.

It'll cost you £80 to drop a cigarette and stubb it out with you shoe around here.

That'll up the odds a bit when the smoking ban comes in, wont it?

Why, do you want to give up?

You see, folk can only give up if they want to. Those that suggest they are happy to smell like a dirty ashtray and shorten their life because smoking makes them happy, well, the are hopelessly addicted and have no chance.