what do you think of the no smoking ban in pubs soon to come into effect

[encee]

i think freedom of choice has gone forever.i smoked up to 6 years ago then gave up so i can see views from a smokers point of view as well as a non smoker.

[jno]

freedom of choice... well, I dunno about your freedom to choose to give me cancer, I'm quite glad if people lose that, really. Just as they shouldn't have any freedom of choice to shoot me, maim me, or steal knickers off my washing line. There are limits to all 'freedoms'.

[youngmafbog]

To a degree I beleive a minority of smokers have done it on themselves. Not so much in pubs perhaps but certainly in restraunts. Quite often I have been in a restraunt where just one group is 'chain' smoking continually through the meal wrecking every other persons enjoyment. Total selfishness - so tough, now the non smokers will have their own way for a change!

I also smoked for a number of years before 'seeing the light'. It is a dirty disgusting habit and should not be inflicted on others. I wish this ban had been in place many years ago as I always found the pub the most awkward place to be when trying to give up.

[trionam]

I live in Dublin I and I cant tell you how good it is I am a non smoker but even one or two of my smoker friends admit that it is better none of them given up completely yet but it definatley makes them smoke a lot less most of the pubs a put on shelters and garden heaters in the beer gardens to accomodate smokers but i know my husband in particular has cut down by half he would chain smoke while having a pint but he couldnt be in and out constantly .so overall good for everybody I think.

[LazyGun]

You can still choose to be a smoker if you should so wish... so the argument that freedom of choice has gone forever is a non-starter.

As a smoker, I can see both sides of the argument too... and the non-smokers have had to put up with the secondary effects of smoking for years.... and I am not just talking about the dangers of passive smoking either.. more the irritation of having an unpleasant atmosphere, the smell of smoke on clothes and in the hair etcetc.

Since the non-smokers are in the majority, it seems only fair to restrict smoking in enclosed public areas... If it means an inconvenience for me then thats not really a problem.

[Loosehead]

On the contrary, freedom of choice has been enhanced, I can now go to the pub without having to enhale 100+ poisons because some selfish adict needs a fix. This is indeed a giant leap for mankind! I don't care if passive smoking is harmful or not, I just don't want to have to smell the smoke and other disgusting residue. I can't wait for July when the dirty disgusting addicts are out on the pavement! As YMB says smokers have brought this on themselves, with their attitude. Smokers, give up and join the rest of us. Cue the well worn tax argument.......

[netibiza]

Good, bring it on! Why should non-smokers have to put up with the nasty smell and smokey atmospheres? They have rights aswell, in fact more so, as it is not natural to puff smoke into one's lungs, we were not made to do so. They are free to smoke in their own homes.

[Gef]

Non-smokers always had freedom of choice whether to go to the pub or not.

[Panic Button]

Some choice Gef.

[JoolsTwo]

And now the smokers have the same choice Gef.

[encee]

perhaps drinking in pubs should stop also because i find drunks offensive.i like to enjoy myself without getting drunk.i really do think that there should be allocated pubs where smokers can go without offending non smokers.at the end of the day you can't please everyone all the time

[Beastly]

I think there are some views here that are pretty crazy? All smokers are disgusting is the general scenario.

I totally agree with the ban in restaurants. That is a great idea, even heavy smokers do not particularly like smoke wafting over thier food.

However I still believe pubs should just create different areas. Those who choose to smoke generally enjoy it most while having a couple of drinks so why depive somone of legally doing what they enjoy? I think also it could have a very negative effect on independent publicans who run the small country pubs relying on the regulars for their livelihood. Those smoking regulars could well decide not to bother walking down the pub at all and just staying in with a few cans so they can smoke.

I think in theory the idea makes sense but it could be better delivered to keep all parties happy.

[willowman]

How do these smokers who can't sit in a pub for a couple of hours without smoking cope with a 2-4 hour flight to their holiday destination?
Beastly - have you considered that for each smoker who decides to stay at home with a tinnie there will be a non-smoker who will now go out to the pub for a drink, knowing he/she will be able to breath clean air, and not go home smelling like an ashtray?

As I said in answer to another question on the same topic -

Your pleasure is smoking. The residue of your pleasure is smoke. It permeates my clothes and hair, making me, a non-smoker smell like an ashtray.
My pleasure is drinking. The residue of my pleasure is urine. How would you like it if I stood on the table and pi55ed all over your clothes?

[Beastly]

No need to quite get like that Willowman. Afterall you will see if you look again at my answer is that the idea makes sense.

Being a non smoker I would be very offended if you pi55ed all over my clothes and probably kick the living daylights out of you.

My clothes have smelt of smoke upon leaving a pub every time for years. It really doesn't bother me that much, I am used to it.

I know full well that if i go to a pub it will be a smokey environment. If I go the the pub with a smoking friend and he/she walks out every half hour to have a smoke in the car park I personally would rather go home smelling of smoke then end up spending half my evening sittnig alone.

[encee]

i agree with beastly.where food is being served most smokers i know have the decency to not want to offend but as beastly states things should be fairer in a pub.the pub me and hubby goes in is our once a week local where ordinary workers go in to relax with their friends.our landlord changed the pub so that ventillation was up to scratch and one part of the pub was allocated to smokers.i think that should have been the answer also to ban smoking around the bar area.i don't smoke but i did up to six years ago.my hubby smokes and as far as i am concerned he has an opinion and the right to relax in a pub where nobody is offended by him smoking along with i would say 75% of the other people who are smokers.whats happened to the rights of the people who own these pubs.my landlord is not happy with this ban but cannot do anything about it??

[Pippa68]

I would like to know what the government is going to do when everyone quits smoking..where are hey gonna grab the lost revenue from?

I am a non smoker, but still think that the smokers section is a better idea. So shoot me ;o)

[encee]

nice one.if everybody quits the goverment will have to get the lost revenue from someone.US again.

[Beastly]

The improvement in ventilation is a great idea encee. Maybe the govenrment should fund that for pubs and clubs.

Also did you know that the air you breath on an aeroplane now is not as clean as the air you used to breath when they allowed smoking on flights due to the ventilation?
Will it be the same for pubs?!?!? Who knows!!

[encee]

i suppose at the end of the day.the pubs can only do as they are told and abide by the law but i do think that a lot of pubs will go out of business especally the local ones which a lot of old people rely on for socialising with there neighbours.bring back the SNUG was it called where ena sharples and some other coronation street cast used to drink in and call it THE SNUG SMOKING ROOM.my guess is that most people would be in there???

[Scylax]

It is a long time since I visited a pub. The disincentive
is not the smoke, it's the prices.
I stay out of the Savoy and Claridge's for the same reason.