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 never smoke while others are eating in my vicinity, it is disgusting.

I'd have to fart for the duration of the cigarette. These people left me speechless but unfortunately it is not the first time it has happened.

People would pay to see that ruty.

Definitely FOR it. Laughed at the article you linked to, Wisteria and I'd be a hypocrite not to recognise the foolish pleasure of smoking my way through University (and increasing my subsequent debt - what a great laugh...) but does that argument draw a line at smoking...?

Not particularly, just that there are worse things we all do I guess.
Plus it made me giggle so thought others may appreciate it and like someone else said, I am sick to death of being told what to do in every aspect of life these days!

it's moreorless how I feel to be honest and the bit about the research into passive smoking thing was vv interesting but am going to bugger off now before I get lynched!
Especially like the line about Brixton Academy - aaahh the dim and distant memory

Against. Strikes me the government is always talking about choice and people having the responsibility to make their own decisions, but then actually moves to take choice away. Hate to use the phrase nanny state but it is appropriate here.

Businesses and public spaces are free to set their own rules - we can already have no smoking pubs or restaurants. Don't need the government interfering. Campaign for more venues to go smoke free by all means, but let people have a choice. Especially private members' clubs - what's wrong with having a smoking room, exactly? If you are worried about the health of the staff, have a room that people have to leave in order to get served. It's not impossible.

Even worse, it's very unfair on people who have no choice about where they are. As far as I understand it, they are banning smoking in pyschiatric units where people are sectioned, for instance. Smoking rates are quite high among people detained under the Mental Health Act - at a basic level, it helps to pass the time. And it is rarely a good idea to try to give up when you are at your lowest ebb. Suspect rate of behavioural problems in psychy wards may well go up as people will lose something that they use as a support - if you as a smoker believe it relieves stress, then it does help psychologically, And taking away yet another area of decision making infantilises people even more.

For, (as an ex-smoker as well)! It works well in Wales, and unlike nearlythere, no local pubs to me have closed, they have actually got busier!!

Edam I thought they were allowing it in designated areas if institutions like prisons and mh hospitals?

we were discussing this the other day- are prisoners now banned from smoking?

....but, I am also concerned at where the extra tax money is going to come from, as many smokers that I knew were "social" smokers, and have actually given up.

I am a smoker, but as others have said this will not rally affect me anyway as i never go out to pub or anything.

I smoke outside at home, never smoke in the car etc etc.

I guess i am for it, because i imagine it to be pretty terrible for non smokers to be around people who smoke.

My only query in it all really, which is a whole other thread, but if it comes to making smoking iilegal, how the hell are the goverment going to replace all the money they make on ridiculous tax they put on cigarettes?

Eg....you can go to spain or greece etc and buy 200 cigarettes for about £18, you buy 200 here it costs almost £50!!

So how the hell are the goverment going to recoup that money? it annoys me when people say smokers shouldn't get treatment on the NHS, er yes we should as we pay out loads in bloody tax to line this countries pocket.

So there

For - we are going out to the pub to celebrate on Sunday and maybe it IS worth having a shower and wearing clean clothes forst as at last I won't now be coming home stinking of smoke - hurray!

for

for - be lovely to have a night out and not come home smelly

I agree with your point about banning smoking in psych units Edam. Totally against that. What's even worse is that the government is not interested in telling mental health users about the ban or even publishing literature that can be distributed to in-patients so that they know what is imminent. No, as usual, they will find out when they are sectioned, at their lowest point and who will they blame..............yep, the nurses. Nurses who are their gaolers and who will soon be unwilling smoking police to boot.

actually dont care about pubs and clubs - I kind of expect to smell of smoke if I go to a pub

but they can smoke in the canteen at work and going in there to make a coffee is DISGUSTING

The ban will be implemented next year for psych units and prisons.

FOR

I am against it as until smoking is made completely illegal, people should have a choice. I DO support pubs that want to be completely non smoking or ones that are smoking. I would like to ahve a choice. I do smoke but only outside in my garden and not in my house. But for me it's about being told what to do.

Prisons?? Wouldn't like to be a warden then; it will be awful.
No you won't have to change your clothes for cigarette smoke but someone invariably spills a drink on you anyway!

And another thing, they go on and on about the health cost that smokers present to the NHS, but so does heart disease and obesity from eating rubbish food but they're not banning that.

4 people I know have either been diagnosed with or died of lung and other cancer in the last 6 months, none of them smoked and none were victims of passive smoking ie - had never been around smokers in any great capacity, it was just bad luck.

Wisteria - believe me, it won't be a bowl of cherries for mental health workers either.

For. It will be wonderful to go into a bar or restaurant and not stink of smoke or need a puff of ventolin when I come out.

I was watching a man on tv recently who is the chair of a working mens club in Luton, on top of the arndale centre. Most of the people who use the club are over 60 and smoke. There isn't anywhere they can go outside to smoke and it will probably close. In this instance I think that the ban is wrong.