Smoking Ban in the UK

[gingeman]

Yesterday it was announced that there will be a ban on smoking in English Pubs, coming into efffect on July 1st.

Now, yes, I do smoke, but even if I didn't, I would see this as a complete infringement on my rights as a UK citizen.

I am really mad about this- there are very few pleasures in my life, but one of them is sitting down the pub with my mates for a drink and a smoke. I am quite certain I am not alone in this.

This ridiculous decision has many issues behind it. The reason it is being implimented is obviously due to health concerns, I am assuming relating to passive smoking by non-smokers. This is fair enough, as I have no intention on damaging anyone's health for my habit. However, I have a more sensible suggestion; how about, if you don't like other people smoking in a pub, go to a different pub where people don't smoke?

People are going to have to go outside to smoke, why not have non-smokers who don't like it stand outside? :hehe:

In any pub, I would go so far as to suggest that the MAJORITY of people smoke, so what is the government thinking stopping them? They will also lose a phenomenal amount of money from taxes and duty, which will have to be found from elsewhere, so it is not as if this issue only affects smokers...

I feel very strongly that there were better ways to solve the "problem" of people having freedom to do what they like...

Anyone here feel the same? Or can somebody fill me in with some sort of rationality behind the decision?

 

[Hitch]

I think it's good they are doing a ban on smoking.

Why should others suffer because of others habbits?
Worst of all, smokers are seriously damaging others health...

What really annoys me is...when smokers say "Oh, i'm trying to quit...it's bad for my health...", then they just continue...ok, fair enough, it's their health...but they are still continuing to damage others health knowing full well what it can do to them...

There was a barman sometime ago, who never smoked in his life...and had alot of tar in his lungs from passive smoking...(Something along those lines, can't remember exactly)

Also, i hate walking behind someone smoking, and bits of ash, and smoke blow back at me...

After coming home from the pub, or a bar, the smell on my clothes kinda annoys me too...

 

[gingeman]

Fair enough, but why should I stop because someone else doesn't like it? There are a million things other people do that get on my t!ts but it doesn't mean I think people have the right to ban it. People have always smoked in bars, so only a dumb-ass barman would take a job not realising this.
Passive smoking does about as much damage (supposedly, although still speculative evidence) as car exhaust fumes, yet I don't see cars being banned... also, I'm sure plenty of pedestrians are killed because of cars- its not 'their' habit, yet they still suffer...

What annoys me about the ban is that it is firstly a complete theft of a free right, but secondly, it is the government saying that somehow, non-smokers have more rights than smokers- why should one group of people stop what they enjoy just to satisfy another. The risks to a non-smokers health are firstly blown waaaayyy out of proportion and secondly, they always have a choice (don't like it, go somewhere else).

I know what I'm doing to MY body, but its MY body, so I'll do what I damn well please!!

Why there can't be a clear marking "THIS IS A SMOKING BAR" or "THIS IS A NON-SMOKING BAR" is beyond me- nobody would HAVE to do anything they didn't want to, and everyone would be fully aware of where they were going. It would also leave us, the people, with the choice, something I thought we were supposed to fight to try and retain...

(Thanks hitch for providing me with an opposition!)

 

[01wojtowicz]

I dont smoke, I dont think epopel should smoke in public places...BUT I believe they should have the choice whether to smoke im public places and not be TOLD what to do!

 

[Morph]

I have to say i agree with the rights point.
Although, yes, it is damaging other peoples health, why should either group have to stand outside? Why should there be smoking non smoking pubs?

Either way you are gunna piss off one group of people, why not piss off one group AND do the health service a favour?

 

[whitebark]

Smoking has been banned in most public places in Canada and the world didn't end for smokers. The business owners all screamed the same trash about losing business as we see from the English biz owners now but low and behold - their business went up after the bans! Gee why would that be... could it be there are far more non-smokers than smokers? OF COURSE!

Smokers are a minority - they should not dictate to the majority that they have a right to kill others with their toxins. Go outside - it isn't going to kill you, but it will keep you from killing others.

 

[Joseph]

I hate going to a nightclub and coming home reeking off smoke :td:

 

[gingeman]

Very few English pubs will see a rise in their business from this ban- I spoke to one the other day who was annoyed as she says they will have to close early, as the license they have doesn't allow people outside the building after 11, so the smokers outside would land them in trouble. Its not really about that for me though- its about a violation of rights - if a "public house" (note the meaning) chooses to allow people within to smoke, then it should be allowed. If someone is that bothered by the smoke they can surely find a non-smoking place to go. That option will now not be afforded to the smokers, who instead are to be humiliated for their 'dirty habit' and made to go outside.
I am not even that pro-smoking- I hate the fact that I smoke, but I don't see how allowing one group of people to dictate to another like this should have any place in modern society. Its a lack of freedom to both the general public, and the landlords.
I don't want to get anybody angry - I see the topic is 'heated', sorry if I'm being a nuisance, wasn't my intent :red:
I just think banning it is far too much like being dictated to, and I don't like that from people I pay to bring me freedom. :hehe:

 

[dhscott]

Most people hate smoking, most smokers say they want to give up. Perhaps this will give them an extra push.

And incidentally, I don't believe anyone has the right to poison others. I can see it happening in a couple of years where someone is taken to court over second-hand smoke issues.

Smoking is something for old people and 14 year old girls, which one are you?

 

[gingeman]

Smoking is something for old people and 14 year old girls, which one are you?

I feel very old when I read comments like that :hehe:

 

[stscac]

Now, yes, I do smoke

Stop.

-Steve

 

[vincenzo]

It's not just the smokers rights, but also the bar owners rights as well.

As for the health issue, the govenments own stats show more drink related deaths per year than smoke related.

Barmen and pub clients have a choice of where to go. Someone killed by people that drink too much are normally innocent victims, and it's instant - no long illness!

On those grounds, should they prioritise the biggest killer first, and ban drinking in pubs instead?

:imho:

- Vince

 

[gingeman]

That's how I feel Vince. Why should I stop something I enjoy, I am a man of few pleasures? I enjoy driving, but that motor vehicle accidents account for a monumental number of deaths, including, I speculate, an even larger number of innocent bystanders than passive smoking...

 

[B33R]

Here's what I've already said on another topic, similar area though - people's rights - linky.

"I think everything should be legal. People are grown up enough to make up their own minds."

If bar/pub owners don't want to be exposed to second hand smoke, they can make their establishment non-smoking.
If their staff don't want to be exposed to second hand smoke, they should find either a non-smoking bar/pub or a different job.
If people don't want to be exposed to second hand smoke, then they should find a non-smoking bar/pub or use their voices and tell the owners they want non-smoking.

This is yet another thing the government shouldn't be meddling in, a nanny state doesn't help anyone. Everywhere, people want different things, people like different things and more importantly, people can make their own choices. They don't need the government banning every little thing that part of the community thinks is "wrong". They should be concentrating on things people can't change on their own - schools, healthcare, crime.

Put simply, you have a voice and a choice for a reason. If you don't like something, you can either go elsewhere or voice your opposition. If there's enough local opposition to something, or if enough people stay away, things will change. People do have the voice, people can make the difference. It needn't happen on a countrywide level either, any changes should be happening on a local level, based on the local people's choice, not the government's.

<< non-smoker by the way.

 

[vincenzo]

And let us not forget, this is the same government that reclassified Cannabis from a Class B to a Class C drug. Go figure huh?

- Vince

 

[Jim_]

All of choices in that poll are biased.

Anyway, you're not being forced to smoke outside. You're not being forced to smoke at all. Deal with it.

 

[labrocca]

In NYC bars and restaurants have banned smoking years ago. There was much uproar about it. After just one year almost all bars were making MORE money. Bars don't make money from cigarettes...they make it from alchohol. Statistics show that a majority of bar goers smoke...yet the majority of residents DON'T smoke. Why is that? Because non-smokers don't want to be in a smoke filled bar. Even smokers become ill or intoxicated faster from the smoke filled environment. I am sure many have woken up with a tremendous cough or sore throat..that's not from the drinking.

Once smoking was banned in NYC...MORE people went to bars and stayed longer. This made MANY happy.

Also consider this...smokers can step outside for a quick one. If that hot chick you like happens to smoke..it's your chance to get some alone time and make a move. Smokers that do need to step out for a smoke will most likely smoke a lot less...this is good for them as well. Many smokers report chain-smoking while drinking...and that's because they are in a smoke filled room where it's more habitual.

This isn't anyones rights being violated. This is a public health matter. Simple as that. Bars will also make more money...statistics prove that in the city already that have passed such laws.

 

[dgridley]

The guy across from my apartment smokes so much i can't even visit his apartment for more than a minute or two without coming out smelling like an ashtray... and women who smoke? Big turn-off! Women who smoke AND drink? Nothing sexy about that...

 

[labrocca]

The guy across from my apartment smokes so much i can't even visit his apartment for more than a minute or two without coming out smelling like an ashtray... and women who smoke? Big turn-off! Women who smoke AND drink? Nothing sexy about that...

Oh I agree but smokers tend to like other smokers since non-smokers won't put up with it.

 

[dgridley]

Now if we could only get rid of smoking in casinos, life would be just about perfect.. :lol:

Oh I agree but smokers tend to like other smokers since non-smokers won't put up with it.