Page 8 | Smoking ban

OnHerSolidFoundations · 2024-04-16T06:02:11+00:00

Why would you not support this?

SeanBeansMealDeal · 19/04/2024 19:52

ProgressivePilgrim · 19/04/2024 13:30

I do agree that alcohol abuse is causing considerable anguish. But, I do still think it's different.
The whole industry is different. There are societies where alcohol is consumed much more responsibly. We've got a particular problem with alcohol in this country.
But, smoking is universally harmful to everyone. There are literally no positives. For some people - asthmatics, children & babies, those with heart conditions etc, even a small amount of smoke particles inhaled passively outdoors can do harm, and cause considerable discomfort.
The majority of people would like to see smoking banned, which is also an important point. Timing.
I think the reason some (by no means all or even most) smokers and their friends become so defensive on forums and other discussions, is that they know their days are numbered.

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Yes, absolutely, it is different.

Alcohol can be very damaging too - and maybe tighter restrictions could be in order in future - but it is the addiction aspect that I think is one of the strongest distinctions.

Everybody acknowledges that alcoholism is a terrible thing to be living with, with no pleasures and it's almost always a downward spiral for the small proportion of drinkers who succumb to it. But the equivalent for smoking affects virtually every smoker.

People frequently give up or reduce their alcohol intake for health/financial/other reasons - but how many 40-a-day smokers do you meet who could easily drop down to 20 for a few weeks?

ZoeCM · 19/04/2024 20:30

JadeandGreen · 18/04/2024 23:54

And if alcohol was discovered today it would also be a Class A drug. No amount of alcohol is good for you. It is poison in a bottle! According to this study by The Lancet "Alcohol is the most dangerous drug in the UK by a considerable margin, beating heroin and crack cocaine". Why is the Government not doing anything to address this 🤔See my previous post!

Alcohol 'more harmful than heroin or crack' | Alcohol | The Guardian

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Yes, alcohol would be a Class-A as well. But most people can drink it moderately. Most people who drink alcohol don't become alcoholics. Again, this is just whataboutery.

JadeandGreen · 20/04/2024 01:28

ZoeCM · 19/04/2024 20:30

Yes, alcohol would be a Class-A as well. But most people can drink it moderately. Most people who drink alcohol don't become alcoholics. Again, this is just whataboutery.

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It's not about "whataboutery" at all! It's about the fact that it doesn't matter if you drink moderately or not. Any amount of alcohol is poisonous! So on that basis why aren't the Government addressing this? Because it's a vote loser, while banning smoking is a vote winner.

SeanBeansMealDeal · 20/04/2024 09:41

JadeandGreen · 20/04/2024 01:28

It's not about "whataboutery" at all! It's about the fact that it doesn't matter if you drink moderately or not. Any amount of alcohol is poisonous! So on that basis why aren't the Government addressing this? Because it's a vote loser, while banning smoking is a vote winner.

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So are you saying that the government shouldn't seek to restrict/ban smoking because alcohol is also bad?

Reminds me of the old joke about the man whose mum gives him two jumpers for his birthday. He sees her the next day and he's wearing one of the jumpers.

He says "Wow, thank you, Mum, this is a fantastic gift - I love this jumper so much, it's perfect!" And her instant response is "So what's wrong with the other one, then?"

AngeloMysterioso · 20/04/2024 13:56

JadeandGreen · 20/04/2024 01:28

It's not about "whataboutery" at all! It's about the fact that it doesn't matter if you drink moderately or not. Any amount of alcohol is poisonous! So on that basis why aren't the Government addressing this? Because it's a vote loser, while banning smoking is a vote winner.

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It is the definition of whataboutery! This is a thread about cigarettes and the smoking ban and you’re saying “but what about alcohol?!”.

JadeandGreen · 21/04/2024 23:39

AngeloMysterioso · 20/04/2024 13:56

It is the definition of whataboutery! This is a thread about cigarettes and the smoking ban and you’re saying “but what about alcohol?!”.

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Ok. If you don't have the critical thinking skills to consider anything beyond the rhetoric then I'll leave you to it 😀