Smoking Ban

jennyswan · Post by **jennyswan** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 12:20 pm

They banned smoking in all restaurants and pubs here in Ireland about 2 years ago. In the beginning everyone complained about it.

I was delighted because when you got out you no longer come back stinking of cigarette smoke. Now don't get me wrong, I think it's up to everybody to decide for themselves but I just feel the air smells so much better in these places now.

I have heard that they are going to introduce this in the UK?

What are you're feelings about smoking in public places? Are you for or against?

stewartcumming · Post by **stewartcumming** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 12:23 pm

Completely against, despite not smoking.

Its yet another freedom taken away from us.

Pubs are where adults go to do adult things - drink, smoke, swear if they want to.

If I'm sat around a table with my friends, I dont want the smokers to have to keep leaving to nip outside for a fag

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 12:24 pm

As a smoker who has failed miserably to give up several times, I welcome a ban and know it will help many people to give up. There will be many moaning about 'peoples rights' but bring it on I say !!! with a bit of luck i will have given up by then anyway....i hope...

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 12:26 pm

stewartcumming wrote: Completely against, despite not smoking.

Its yet another freedom taken away from us.

Pubs are where adults go to do adult things - drink, smoke, swear if they want to.

If I'm sat around a table with my friends, I dont want the smokers to have to keep leaving to nip outside for a fag

I think swearing should be banned as well as it happens !!

(not joking)

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 12:28 pm

Doesnt matter to me. Even though I smoke, it's not often enough to squeal about. It's been like that in the states for a while. I'm used to going outside. LOL! At least I get a breath of freah air!

But seriously, has anyone considered what they are going to ban next?

stewartcumming · Post by **stewartcumming** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 12:30 pm

Bez wrote: I think swearing should be banned as well as it happens !!

(not joking)

you cant be ****ing serious?

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 12:35 pm

stewartcumming wrote: you cant be ****ing serious?

Swearing makes me cringe ....o.k. I have been know to say s**t once in a while, but that's about it. WHY do people need to swear ?

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 12:35 pm

Next you will only be able to drink french wine in a pub. Everything else is just not civilised enough.

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 12:40 pm

Bez wrote: Swearing makes me cringe ....o.k. I have been know to say s**t once in a while, but that's about it. WHY do people need to swear ?
Thats just because you are truly a lady m'dear! :yh_flower

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 12:53 pm

Raven wrote: Thats just because you are truly a lady m'dear! :yh_flower

He he...that's what you think !!!!

Guess what ??? I prefer wine too !!! but I like it in a tumbler !!

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 1:04 pm

LOL! Nice try darling, but some things you just cant hide!

(my swearing credentials come compliments of the U.S. Navy.) :yh_flower

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 1:11 pm

What I don't understand is, why can't they make it up to the business owner? Have some smoking pubs and some non-smoking. It's choices that are being taken away, and THAT'S what is wrong.

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 1:11 pm

you cannot smoke in florida restaurants either, and as a result i don't care to go out to dine. it makes me uncomfortable. i want a fag with my coffee. however, i understand those who don't want to be subjected to smoke. so when i go out i go to beachside outdoor venues. best seafood anyway.

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 1:15 pm

lady cop wrote: you cannot smoke in florida restaurants either, and as a result i don't care to go out to dine. it makes me uncomfortable. i want a fag with my coffee. however, i understand those who don't want to be subjected to smoke. so when i go out i go to beachside outdoor venues. best seafood anyway.

I agree with you LC. I do my smoking at outside spots. And hang the ass that might object!

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 1:20 pm

it's pretty entertaining when Bothwell rolls his own over here, i've had to rescue him from my brothers more than once! :yh_rotfl

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 8:16 am

Bez, you know I luv ya, but to ban something just because you personally don't like it, or to allow a banning of a freedom because it doesn't impact your life that much, is very dangerous.

I'm with BR. Private business owners should decide how they run their businesses. The customers will dictate which practices are successful and which are not.

buttercup · Post by **buttercup** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 8:28 am

its pretty cold here to have to smoke outside, at the moment we are up to our knees in snow

the new going out in scotland is 'staying in'

cook a nice meal for your friends, buy in lots of wine & socialise at home, im all for it

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 9:11 am

Accountable wrote: Bez, you know I luv ya, but to ban something just because you personally don't like it, or to allow a banning of a freedom because it doesn't impact your life that much, is very dangerous.

I'm with BR. Private business owners should decide how they run their businesses. The customers will dictate which practices are successful and which are not.

That wasn't quite what I meant to get over....maybe I worded it wrong......anyway...

The debating is over, the law of the land will be passed: smoking banned in Theatres, cinemas, restatraunts, pubs, work place smoking rooms etc. A total ban as opposed to partial ban, prevents there being any loop holes and grey areas I guess.

I smoke... but I know how offensive it is to non-smokers and how bad it is for health.

From a 'civil liberties' point of view, people will view it as another list of 'banned activities'..... maybe they're right.....in fact they probably are.

What other civil liberties will be taken away from us???? who knows ?? I believe in peoples freedom to do whatever...provided it doesn't hurt or offend

From a PERSONAL point of view and a view also held by several people I know, restricting the places they can smoke will help them cut down. This was MY point.

From the point of view of a person who smokes and wants to continue to do so socially, it's a BIG problem and I appreciate that.

For businesses like Pubs, restaurants, only time will tell how it will affect them...if they are innovative and forward looking, I'm sure they'll cope.

For a smoker who has to spend several hours in a 'smoke free' zone....try Nicogel you spray it on the palms of your hands and it gives you a nicotine fix that lasts a couple of hours

PHEW....hope I've covered every eventuality now and recovered my fence sitting position in the garden....

Luv you too ACC

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 9:14 am

Accountable wrote: Bez, you know I luv ya, but to ban something just because you personally don't like it, or to allow a banning of a freedom because it doesn't impact your life that much, is very dangerous.

I'm with BR. Private business owners should decide how they run their businesses. The customers will dictate which practices are successful and which are not.
The sad reality is that there is no such thing as personal freedoms anymore. Everyone else has rights but you.

Isnt New York city smoke free? So it isnt just here. Personal freedom is an illusion.

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 9:33 am

I'm struggling to think of something that I WANT to do that I CAN'T DO.....any suggestions ???

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 9:36 am

Bez wrote: I'm struggling to think of something that I WANT to do that I CAN'T DO.....any suggestions ???
Drive fast

not wear seatbelts or helmets

smoke at a pub

leave a pub with a drink in your hand (may not apply in UK)

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 9:37 am

give your kids a good smack for bad behavior? Beat the hell out of an intruder breaking in to your house? Give a yob a good kicking for tearing up your garden? Telling a bunch of gypsies to go to hell for camping in your field illegally? Taking a walk at dusk because you might be mugged or worse? Just for starters......

observer1 · Post by **observer1** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 9:41 am

I go both ways on this. I think that probably places should have separate places for smoking & non-smoking, much like they do now. But I'm a smoker & know that when I'm out, if I'm drinking, I like to have my cigs too!

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 9:47 am

Expect illegal aliens to be arrested, much less deported.

Cross a national border without being arrested & deported (may not apply to Canada; I don't know)

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 9:48 am

observer1 wrote: I go both ways on this. I think that probably places should have separate places for smoking & non-smoking, much like they do now. But I'm a smoker & know that when I'm out, if I'm drinking, I like to have my cigs too!
But should the gov't decide the when & where of it?

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 12:30 pm

Accountable wrote: Drive fast

not wear seatbelts or helmets

smoke at a pub

leave a pub with a drink in your hand (may not apply in UK)

I must be so BORING......I don't want to do the first 2 in case I die (note: I have points on my license for speeding)

I'm not keen on pubs...too many drunks (prefer to get drunk at home)

I think there may be 'bye laws' somewhere that don't allow the drinking of alcohol in public...on the streets...I'm not sure on this one.

Is that IT ?

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 12:33 pm

Raven wrote: give your kids a good smack for bad behavior? Beat the hell out of an intruder breaking in to your house? Give a yob a good kicking for tearing up your garden? Telling a bunch of gypsies to go to hell for camping in your field illegally? Taking a walk at dusk because you might be mugged or worse? Just for starters......

Now you're talking Raven, apart from the last one which is a consequence of the others .

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 12:43 pm

Accountable wrote: But should the gov't decide the when & where of it?

Isn't it a question of protecting non-smokers.?

Actually, when you think about it , most restaraunts, companies, hotels, hospitals etc regulate themselves and either ban smoking or provide separate smoking areas.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 4:13 pm

Bez wrote: Isn't it a question of protecting non-smokers.?

Actually, when you think about it , most restaraunts, companies, hotels, hospitals etc regulate themselves and either ban smoking or provide separate smoking areas.
Exactly! So why is a law needed at all? If nonsmokers convince a pub owner that there's a profit to be made by going no-smoke, he'll do it.

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 2:09 am

Accountable wrote: Exactly! So why is a law needed at all? If nonsmokers convince a pub owner that there's a profit to be made by going no-smoke, he'll do it.

I guess the goverment has stepped in due to the (allegedly) high cost of of smoking related ilness being treated by the NHS.....there is also quite a bit of litigation here...sick people sueing companies for allowing them to be exposed to other peoples smoke.....the world's gone mad with the litigation thing.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 8:37 am

Bez wrote: I guess the goverment has stepped in due to the (allegedly) high cost of of smoking related ilness being treated by the NHS.....there is also quite a bit of litigation here...sick people sueing companies for allowing them to be exposed to other peoples smoke.....the world's gone mad with the litigation thing.
If it were the US gov't, I'd say they did it so they could point to it as something they accomplished, thereby deserving re-election. :yh_frustr

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 9:06 am

Accountable wrote: If it were the US gov't, I'd say they did it so they could point to it as something they accomplished, thereby deserving re-election. :yh_frustr

Aren't all political parties / goverments like this. ?

do they keep their promises.....??? I think not....trouble is, when they are campaigning before elections they make all sorts of promises and then let us all down.

One of my biggest 'gripes'....crime on the streets is going up....what happens ? A lot of police stations are closed, and the rest close at 5pm ! When do we need them ?..at night when all the yobs crawl out of their 'holes'. :-5

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 9:43 am

Bez wrote: Aren't all political parties / goverments like this. ?

do they keep their promises.....??? I think not....trouble is, when they are campaigning before elections they make all sorts of promises and then let us all down.

One of my biggest 'gripes'....crime on the streets is going up....what happens ? A lot of police stations are closed, and the rest close at 5pm ! When do we need them ?..at night when all the yobs crawl out of their 'holes'. :-5
They're out back, having a smoke. :sneaky:

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 9:59 am

Accountable wrote: They're out back, having a smoke. :sneaky:

.. ..