Parents face ban on smoking in front of children - apologies if there's already a thread on this.

[TAFKAtheUrbanDryad]

Here. Fucking lunacy! I assume they'll be banning drinking in front of children too, since drinking is far more disruptive to society?

I agree that parents shouldn't smoke in the house where there are kids, and I would welcome legislation which stopped people smoking in the car with their kids, but this is sheer craziness!

And yes, of course the ideal is that people quit smoking, but it's not that simple is it?

this?

Thing is the mobile phone while driving ban is not enforced, and this won't be either, whatever you think of the idea.

I hate that they are just slapping new laws over everything which cannot be enforced, and there;s no time to enforce the really important ones.

Plus what someone earlier said, it will give additional leverage to SS if they want to act for some reason. Smoking is more prevalent in lower socio economic groups (I think?) and thus you are criminalising all of those people and leaving them open to action from police/SS if those agencies decide to go after them for whatever reason.

Theshriekingharpy

"Its the equivalent of me likening a modest kick up the bum to a cudgel over the head."

Makes you think though doesn't it?

Yes I agree - that one is considered much more serious by most people than the other, but I think its a fair point to a degree. Its having something forced into your body that you don't want.

Bottom line, a kick up the arse or a smack over the head, neither are very nice. If someone brought out cigarettes now as a new product about to put on the market it would never be allowed.

Atlantis, of course there are worse things than smoking, but that doesn't make smoking just fine and dandy

Personally I like a line that Lenny Henry came out with a few years ago when he was at a dinner and his table companion asked Lenny if he minded if he smoked between courses, so Lenny asked if it was ok for him to fart between courses. Because to him it was as offensive as a fart in the face.

The subject of passive smoking has been done to death on here tbh and its one of those topics where mn is divided. Personally I do belive its a health risk as onagar knows, and I will remain of that opinion as onagar will remain of his.

I do think age has an effect to a degree on how accepting people are of smoking, the younger generation are less accepting in many cases and the older generation of die hard smokers will probably do just that

People whose opinions are changed against their will, will remain of their opinion still, so I shan't bother.

I do think the government need to decide what their stance is on this though as they are hypocrits.

Merry christmas!

My mother used to give me drags on her fags, I have smoked all my life and given up several times. Haven't smoked now since last summer 09. If forbidding parents to smoke in the home is the subject of a possible new law, then there are more damaging things that should not be done in front of children. Of course, being drunk and disorderly can be another. Then there is violent argument, shouting, lack of control generally, blaming, punishments, and a host of parental mismanagements that are worse, far worse, than a quiet fag.

I can't stand smoking in front of children however I think it is far far worse to have such laws. Nanny state too far. People have the right to be crap parents at times and not just smoking.

There has been research about children being more likely to smoke themselves. Anecdotal family experiences aren't really helpful though because of course some kids of non smokers smoke and vice versa.

However.....

My dad smokes and I used to smoke. As an adult I made the decision to do so, therefore imo it was my fault not his.

I hate the nanny state, there are worse things than smoking ALTHOUGH now I am a mother there is no way I would smoke myself. All this judgeyness though - few of us are actually perfect.