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 like a smoke. I'm not against the smoking ban, but I do think that extending it to cigar clubs, for instance, is frankly ridiculous.

I will sit outside and smoke, naturally. But if anyone comes up to me and tells me to put it out, when I'm outside, I know exactly where I'll stub it.

Blu the ban will extend to residential services next summer. Aloha - as a non-smoker who has never smoked I do agree that workplaces should not endanger peoples lives. However in the case of psych wards, non-smokers are not exposed to the risk of passive smoking. Gone are the old days where staff and patients would sit puffing away in a huge room. There is a smoking room with a door kept constantly closed. On the other hand, restricting smoking to outdoors (which is what our unit will do next summer) will be a nightmare as it will take 2 staff off the ward (when only 4 work a shift)which will create a risky situation and it will put staff under increasing pressure to take patients outside when they are busy with other duties. In short, it will almost certainly increase violence.

NP i wasnt commenting on my smoking affecting my children through me, but directly affecting their health. i am giving up smoking and have only started again recently as was deep in PND........anyway i know the affects it can have on children, and i dont want that but that was not what i was talking about.

Des, watch out if it is outside at a pizzeria - you'll have Ruty farting at you!

For ... living in Wales too, and our local pubs have got busier - especially during the daytime ... I now don't mind popping in for a bite to eat as I know my clothes won't stink of fag smoke when I come out ... I'm also asthmatic, and it has made going out a lot less of a lottery - before the smoking ban cam into practice, I would have to weigh up going out to a pub ... "will I have an attack or won't I"?

It will really help people trying to give up smoking too.

sleeplessstacey, i used to be a smoker and i smoked outside, while my 2 dds stood on the other side of the door "what are you doing mummy?" i rellay know where you are coming from, good luck with stopping.

I am for it and especially in bus stops.

Have noticed our council is putting up signs in the bus shelters!

desi - so it is acceptable then for people who are smoking to walk past my dd waving their cigarettes around at her face level - if ever she gets burnt by someones cigarette because i do worry about this, i will not be held responsible for my actions. If of course you are smoking where it doesnt affect my child then i would respect your choice but if the smoke was affecting my child then i would politly ask you to stop.

For. As someone said, a ban's been in place in Scotland for a while now and it's great, except that you get subjected to smoke in the street instead.

Each time I go to England I'm always shocked to walk into a smokey area because I forget it isn't a UK ban. But when I'm back in the UK next month it will smoke-free - yippee!!

It will only help people who want to stop smoking to give up.

I'm particularly referring to pub beer gardens, lucy .... 'tis my area of expertise!

I accept the other points you make.

I think should extend to smoking in public even outdoors. My dd likes to sit outside and eat at her favorite restraunt and now its full of smokers.

i have been to a couple of pubs that used to have lovely beer gardens - since the ban these beer gardens have a knee deep carpet of fag ends - its a shame - the landlords should tidy it up as the families are complaining

My opinion is; As an ex-smoker i have been on both sides of the fence. I am all for this ban because it will be lovely for me or dp to come home from the pub without smelling like an ashtray. Thats purly why i am all for it, i couldn't care less if smokers are killing themselves because with all the research and info we have on the effects of smoking today that is so widely advertised, if your stupid enough to carry on then do it, but don't ever blame anyone else but yourself.

Also smoking in the work place should have been banned years ago. I always found it to be highly unfair that smokers can go for countless fag breaks throughout the day. Prisoners shouldn't allowed to smoke either, if they hadn't done the crime then they wouldn't be in that situation in the first place.

And as for smokers saying the government are taking away a choice, bullshit, what about non smokers choice to not have to breath in your smoke, ever thought about that?

LEM you said

"if of course you are smoking where it doesnt affect my child then i would respect your choice"
but you clearly don't respect choice because you also say
"i just wish they would ban the sale of tobacco as well"

I think people who 'blow smoke in faces', light up when you're eating, endanger children by waving fags about etc. are just plain rude - but not all smokers are like this; we just want the opportunity to be allowed the freedom of choice and surely a 'smoking' pub would not affect you and yours as you wouldn't go in, would you?

wisteria, you need to jsut accept the fact that all public places are banning smoking - get over it - everyone here in scotland has

smoking pubs - rofl

For and, I also think they should be banned from smoking in the street. I find it so annoying when walking down the street and you might as well be in a bar that allows smoking.

I agree that they have every right to choose what they want to smoke. I just also beleive that I have the right to walk down the street, go to the pub, etc. without having to breath in smoke as well.

LOL Nail

I'm not anti the ban as my earlier posts suggest - just would like a fairer approach tbh. Welcome it indoors tbh as I only smoke roll ups and normal fags really make me choke!

I welcome it in most places, just want the pub thing to be altered...

well spotted but i rather think i have a right to defend my childs right not to have to breathe second hand smoke. Yes i do wish they would ban it because my 17 yr old DD smokes and it breaks my heart to know this. If it were banned then she wouldn't be able to

but why should it be altered?

a pub is for drinking not smoking

Yes, you do - of course you do. Shame about your dd, must be upsetting for you.

at least my farting wouldn't affect their health. Put them off their meal, yes.

A pub is for escaping from the children IMHO and I want to have a ciggie with my beer (away from the tuts of non-smokers) I would gladly sit in a tap room for this, if not I will be outside and try not to go near any children - incidentally I am not including 'family pubs' in this but your normal real ale country pub etc, where they don't serve food and private members clubs etc.

Oi, Wisteria!

Come round to mine. We'll roll a few in the back yard and stink the place up