Public smoking bans for or against?

It looks like Manchester may become the first place in the UK to become smoke free in buildings. This means you cannot light up in clubs, pubs and work places.

I am personaly for the ban because I am sick of smelling like a tobaco factory every time I come back from a club or cheaper pub (the more expensive ones tend to have less smokers/better ventalation).

I just think it will improve the health of a lot of clubbers and pubbers as well as people working in smokey environments.

I am however aware that too many rules create a nanny state which I am against but in this istance I believe the government is right to create a law which will allow councils to have smoking bans.

I know a lot of people who don't smoke tend to go more airey pubs and avoid the smokey clubs. If the ban was made these people may go out more replacing the few hardcore smokers that won't go to pub unless they can pollute the place.

I read somthing that said a modern car produces less pollution than a fag within x amount of time.

 

Against. Contrary to popular belief smoking is: (a) grown-up; (b) clever.

-- Ian

 

You will think you have gone to (smokers') heaven when in Japan

 

against,there even trying to ban smoking in the dutch coffee shops

 

For, why should I have to inhale someone elses fag smoke and risk my health for someone elses addicition?

 

Damn right, it's absolutely disgusting when you leave the pub and stink of cigarette smoke... not only that the acrid smoke from some of them, especially Marlboro's, is so bad it actually stings the eyes and makes it hard(er) to see.

An alternative to a ban would be to increase the price of cigarettes substantially, say £25 per pack, in order to facilitate the installation of good smoke extracting facilities in every building where anyone ever has to go to work/visit/drink.

 

Mmmmmmm, Marlboro.

I'm with SideShowBob, but that's because I'm a smoker.

If I ever stop being grown-up and clever I'll probably take the opposing view.

 

When you in a resturant eating your food and someone blows thier second hand,which you don't ask for cigi smoke on your food,do you then when you've finished your drink,p*** on thier plate?Do you think they would mind?

 

Against and this as a non smoker. Those that complain about the smell of their clothes should wash them more often. I hate smelling sweaty people, buy some deodarent FFS.

And for those that say FOR, I also want a BAN ON ALCOHOL. I'm get fed up being accosted by drunken idiots on the way home, drunk drivers killing people and getting away with it, and reading about drunken abuse to families at home. Alcohol is the biggest addictive drug in the world and kills far more people that cigarettes

 

I am a smoker but all for public banning.

 

Alchohol is a seperate issue all together. We had an issue with drunken vandals a few years ago but the police quickly sorted it out and it stopped over night. I don't think it is fair for the people like me who just drink say 5-6 pints and caouse no harm at all when had a few. However I do think pubs and clubs must havbe much more responsability for letting people get drunk. I also think clubs should limit the amount of drink you can have although I am not sure how this would work.

Without going into too much details I know the effects of alchohol first hand and how it can destory lives but banning it won't solve much as people would either smuggle it or start doing stuff like glue sniffing.

Putting up the price of fags to £25 a packet won't work either because peoplke would either buy fakes or ilegaly import them. I wouldn't be totaly against some specialy licenced smoking pubs like they have so called brown cofee shops in Amsterdam.

I also wash my clothes everyday but it still stinks the house out till the following morning when they can be washed. Also my coat stinks and you can't wash that every time you go out.

I do fully understand why people are against the ban but I just think the good of public health the ban needs to go ahead.

 

Both of these in excess kill. Doesn't matter which is the 'bigger' as they are both just as bad in extreme. After managing to encourage my father and his generation to stop smoking it is sad watching another generation of girls and boys as young as 12 years become addicted all over again. This time there is no excuse not to know. Alcohol is not bad. Drinking in excess is not grown up or clever. Feels like a new and increasing Brits disease.

Back to the thread. Should smoking in all public places be ban? About time. I could still remember the bad old days of feeling physically ill after sitting in choking airline and rail cabins. Could not imaging working in an office filled with smoke haze ever again. You could still do it in your own home so what is the problem.

 

For.

 

I often think there is no way I could tolerate smoking in planes or trains or work. I could not work in a smoking office its as simple as that. Even just eating food in the canteen is so much more pleasent as its smoke free (since 1996).

It is interested that Wetherspoons are campaigning for the smoking ban to ahead too although most pubs seem to be against it.

It is also interesting that hardly anybody on my course smokes so it seems a lot of young people are getting the message. I know young people smoke but I don't think they do anything like as much as they did 20 years ago.

 

as an ex-smoker i'm all for the ban. i do think that warm dry smoking facilites should be provided though.
this purely for health reasons - i gave up so that i can get lung cancer from 2nd hand smoke? NO.
i don't care about the smell etc (i'm with lee on that one - wash more often).
still at least foxes are safe
cheers


julian

 

I am actually quite shocked at the way its portrayed in the media of all things.

They report as though its surprising that schoolkids are smoking, and that parents don't know what is going on, same with drugs and sex.

Its rife, I see kids all over the show, girls more so, with fags, 12, 13 year olds.
Its not surprising at all. Its a downright epidemic, and people in this country want to wake up.

Against, as being a non smoker, its unfair I should be subjected to someone else's 'pollution'.

I suppose you could say that for non car drivers(they are a big majority, thouhg, and its still pretty essential to get out in a car) but it is by definition unethical for someone else to affect someone else adversely, so smoking with non smokers is infringing upon them. sure in the open space.

I also hate people who smoke whilst driving a new car, what a waste, a posh new car and wrecking it with fag smoke.

 

For a ban. Took me years of trying to give up, now I hate the smell and the inconsiderateness of many smokers who seem oblivious to it's effect on other people.

Ok I'm a self righteous git then

 

I suppose I am lucky being bought up with a none smoking family the smell is not the norm so I hate it in pubs.

Another reason I am for the ban is social smoking. A few people only smoke when out clubbing/pubbing because their mates are doing it, if it is banned then these people won't need to smoke just to fit in so to speak.

 

Against a total outright ban... I'm a non-smoker and always have been.

One of my pet hates is being stuck walking behind someone who is puffing away and not being able to get past in order to get away from the acrid stench. Also, if someone is walking in front of me and they gradually slow down and at the same time start swaying from one side of the payment to the over, you can guarantee that they are about to light up - 9/10 this is the case IME - a strange but true observation!

Having said that... What goes on in the street doesn't really bother me that much. It's indoor gathering places where I'd prefer to be able to a make choice about whether I wish to inhale smoke or not. I'd prefer pubs, restaurants and the like to take the initiative and find out what the majority of their regular clientelle (sp?) think about banning smoking. That way, people who want to smoke can go to the smokers' joints (punn intended ) and those of us who wish to breath fresh air can go to the smoke free venues. Either that or make decent designated smoking/non-smoking areas with decent ventilation so that the smoke doesn't carry to the non-smoking areas.

I did go to a pub recently where they had a questionaire behind the bar asking customers if they'd like to see the pub go completely non smoking, a great idea. Although personally I couldn't see the majority of the regulars at that particular place voting for a smoking ban as this place is usually very smokey and they also specialise in serving real ales - real ale and smoking usually go together like hand and glove IME.

 

Hi,

I'm in favour for a ban in a number of public places. This is something that will happen. There are a few pubs in Sheffield which have smoking bans. There are many that have non smoking areas or times where smoking is not alllowed. This summer, I was on holiday in Dublin. They have non smoking in the pubs & bars around the city. This has made a very pleasant change. As a non smoker, I enjoyed it more. The pubs & bars were all busy. There was no trouble enforcing this and nobody (outwardly) seem to mind. Smoking was allowed outside & in beer gardens.

I too don't like my cothles smelling of smoke. It was great coming in from a night out in Dublin & your clothes smelling fresh. One thing about smoky clothes is that they can stink your room out. The stale smell of smoke can be, at times, unpleasant. This is something you have to put up with if you want a night out.

What I think may happen will be a an increase in non smoking venues and non smoking areas. Venues will be doing this off their own backs. A number of businesses are heavily thinking about this. A lot of places of work & shops are non smoking. I do think that there needs, at times, to be more thought about catering for smokers, e.g. pubs & rooms for smokers.

SCIDB