So what do we all think about the proposed smoking bans?

[KateandtheGirls]

Interesting thread...

MIssHoolie, I'm going to guess that KATG has become very Americanised and only wears her clothes once (whereas I've gone the other way). I bet she only uses her bath towels once too. But then the washing machines and driers are so huge and quick in the US. Makes a big difference.

I agree beansmum, bus shelters are one of the worst places- often people who aren't actually waiting for a bus but have come in for a quick fag! If they could ban smoking outside all the hospital entrances that would cut down my exposure by about 90%....

I love going to pubs in Ireland now that they have a smoking ban. Can't wait until the UK does it - I hate breathing in other people's smoke.

BadHair - 'if they don't like it don't work in it' is a little harsh I think! Surely you should be able take employment wherever you like and expect there to be clean air! EXCEPT for designated smoking pubs and restaurants of course!

I can't wait till they ban barbecues! It's all you can smell in our garden in the summer, thanks to our grumpy neighbours.

Sorry, what was that? I was just doing my laundry...

I thought you were joking Miss Hoolie. Seemed like too good a straight line to pass up.

No, I don't wear my clothes more than one day running. But I do use my bath towels several times, thank you every much tex!

KATG

Personally, I think that smoking should be banned in ALL public places (including the street). If people want to pollute the air and make everything and everybody around them smell then they should only be able to do it in private. I am sick and tired of coming home smelling like an old ashtray.

It's not only the smell that sticks to clothes, I recently wore a very expensive jacket to a job interview and some plonker at the bus stop burned a hole in it.

Can't wait for the ban - needs to go a lot further.

I'm a non smoking child of smoking mother, my DH is an ex smoker, I'm really pleased that this new legislation is coming in. I, like many others, am sick of breathing in other peoples cigarette smoke in public places.

I HATE the fact that lots of smokers have leapt on the 'breach of human rights/Big Brother' band-wagon. Implying that the ban is a breach of their freedom of choice etc. WHAT ABOUT THE CHOICE OF THE NON SMOKING MAJORITY ??? We've not had a choice about inhaling your gross, toxin filled smoke, or having our clothes, hair and skin reeking of the stuff whenever we come in from the pub etc. You can still smoke, it's still your decision, but thankfully you just can't do it in my face anymore !!!!

Vent over.....

Planning on buying a hotel in Cornwall early in the new year and after much research have decided that it is definately going to be a non-smoking hotel. We already have a list of potential customers who are very keen.

Yaaaaah for Nondeplume

"Is it right to ban a perfectly legal activity in public?" sex is perfectly legal but banned in public its about time smoking was banned in places where you eat food. it is disgusting having to smell other peoples smoke when youre trying to eat.

It might be perfectly legal - but it affects other people, even to the point of killing them. I am an asthmatic who generally has her asthma under control with daily steroids. I very rarely have to use my other inhaler (about three times a year). I went christmas shopping yesterday, very busy, lots of people, many smokers. Went for lunch in the no smoking section, which reeked of cigarette smoke that had wafted over. Throughout the morning, I had to use my inhaler four times in two hours and within five minutes of getting back home had an asthma attack (the first in over a year) - today I'm fine.

Ok. As the total minority on this thread...I AM A SMOKER!!! And this shitty year I have smoked more than ever in my life. having just been to New York I was absolutely DREADING it! How could I drink cocktails without a cigarette??? But you know what?/ It wasn't so bad. I agree-smoking IS a filthy stinking dangerous habit. And I completely agree with the ban. Alot of peole would be alot healthier and alot better off (and have pretty stinky living rooms!!)

This governement (I use the term loosely) has finally done something wonderful. Only wish the ban was in force sooner. Hooray - no more stinking clothes and hair after a night out, meals ruined by the smokers at the next table, and my kids being subjected to other peoples foul nicotine habit. Fab!

Spook, I think that quite a few 'social smokers' (talk about contradiction in terms !) are also pro the ban.

This governement (I use the term loosely) has finally done something wonderful. Only wish the ban was in force sooner. Hooray - no more stinking clothes and hair after a night out, meals ruined by the smokers at the next table, and my kids being subjected to other peoples foul nicotine habit. Fab!

I'm very relieved. After a particularly nasty asthma attack as a teen, I had to do extended monitoring of my lung strength several times a day over several months. My normal lung strength is 450 (whatever it's measured in). When I was exposed to cigarette smoke (I went to a drama group once a week with chain smokers) my lung strength would plummet to under 200 (even though I didn't notice I was particularly wheezy). It gave me a real wakeup call about the dangers of passive smoking and I've been very careful with my children around cigarette smoke.

I do wish they'd gone beyond this though. The majority of smokers, to be fair, are considerate and do pay attention to what they're doing. But I've lost count of the number of times fag ash has blown into the face of my pushchair-riding child (obviously, people generally hold their cigarette down when walking, but forget small children are at that level) and I HATE seeing hundreds of cigarette butts in children's playgrounds - especially when you have an inquisitive toddler.

Can't wait! Best news I've heard this week.

Like Joash, am also an asthmatic and have attacks triggered by cigarette smoke. Apparently, 80%!! of asthmatics have cigarette smoke as an attack trigger.

If I want to go out for a drink in a pub (not very often I must admit because I can't bear the smoke) I have to increase my steroids a few days beforehand and I ALWAYS end up using my blue one during the course of the night and the next few days.

Fortunately, my 2 favourite restaurants locally have a complete non-smoking ban - this was introduced after a customer survey! and business is still booming.

Last week, took the kids to Brewsters. Had to wait for a table and was told to wait in the bar! The bar was smoky (this is supposed to be a "child-friendly" pub) but I was expected to sit in there with my kids! Told them I'd rather wait in the car (which we did!) and they came out to get us.

About bl*dy time is all I can say. Smokers bleat on about how the ban won't make them give up - personally I don't give a stuff if they never give up and smoke themselves to an early grave - but non-smokers have more of a right to breathe clean air!

Balls to the ban, I say.

I'm all for more smoke-free places to eat/drink, but why the hell do they have to ban it? Why can't they offer tax incentives for going completely smoke free, or proviidng smoke free rooms (not areas - I always think they're a bit pointless) instead? The point is that now, many non-smokers do not have a choice - all we need is to create a choice, not to ban it entirely.

But even though I'm against it, I also think it's a silly half measure - pubs that serve food? all that will happen is that fewer pubs will serve food - and I love good pub food. Here's hoping the chain-pubs stop serving it though.

I'm off for a fag.

I hate, hate, hate, smoking!! So think this is excellent news. While on the subject, anyone got a tactful suggestion to avoid sitting next to a chain-smoking colleague and her dp at Xmas "do"? It's only a small office (will be 10 on the table) and she is probably the person I get on best with but now I'm pg, can't stand thought of being subjected to their smoke all evening.

I'm for it although think its a bit pointless stopping it as they have. Went to a christening the other week of all events and I was quite sad that for the first time ever 3yo DS came home smelling of smoke. Was somewhat relieved that with DD recovering from chicken pox we'd decided to leave her with my Mum.

Sometimes when I've been out and got smoke in my hair I've had to change my pillowcase the next day - so whats it doing to my insides. Also don't think that the smoker's argument stacks up.

i always think that i dont chose to inhale the smoke firsthand so why would i want to inhale it once its been round someones gunky lungs. yuck.

Hear, hear Soupdragon. I only wish the ban were starting in January, not in 06.

As someone who was picked on at school for being smelly thanks to parents who smoked heavily (nickname Ashtray) I support this ban. I actually took part in the Scottish public report and am glad they are going ahead with it.

As Steve Martin once said "If someone asks you if they can smoke then say "No, as long as you don't mind me farting."

Only pumps don't cause cancer.

Now for them to tackle binge drinking and this country might actually get somewhere.