For Smokers

[jocasta]

How do you feel about the potential Smoking ban in pubs, restaurants etc?

[Dusky]

Bad; very bad.  I think it should be down to the individual licensee or management.  I fear the day when people might be sued for smoking in their own garden because next door happens to be the other side of the fence and, coincidentally, in the same country.

 

People will say and have said "having a no-smoking area in a pub is like having a no-peeing area in a swimming pool" but if you want to drink in a smoke-free environment, allowing licensees to make up their own minds who they want in their own gaff must surely solve the problem.  If you don't want kids peeing in the pool, swim in the sea...oh, no...hang on...

 

Non-smokers might not want to smoke (in fact, obviously they don't, or they'd be smokers; I know that) but there are smokers around who have the same number of arms & legs and like their beer just as much.

 

I object to being in the vicinity of people who can't complete a sentence without peppering it with "like" and "I'm like" and "she's like" and "werr-werr-werr-werr-werr" and "y'kna'mean"; it affects my stress levels but I don't see any govenment initiative on the horizon to protect me.  Let me have a fag!  If you don't like it, go over there and don't pull a face...Mum!

[FP]

It should be up to the licensee.  Having said that I think that there should be separate rooms for smokers and non smokers.  I avoid pubs because I hate smoke and have a lung complaint.  Separate areas are just not good enough.  If non smokers don't object to smoke then they can drink in the smokers room. 

 

I think pubs might get more business if they consider this.

 

Us non smokers are just not catered for at present and we form the majority.

[FP]

Sorry, perhaps I shouldn't have answered this!  I have just read the title of the question properly.

[ll_billym]

Restaurants I think is fair enough, forcing licencees to ban it in pubs and clubs is ridiculous.  I for one will not go out so much if I cannot smoke while I am out.

 

I think that it should be down to the licensee.

[LeMarchand]

I gave up a few months ago, but would like to answer!

 

I can see why the ban is (probably) a good thing, but feel a bit annoyed by

1. The fact that it is going to be in places where people will still be consuming an equally as destructive drug - alcohol.
2. The smug attitude of non-smoking drinkers at the ban.

 

I realise that drinking isn't of itself as destructive to the drinker or the people around, but the fact remains that many people abuse alcohol and do end up hurting themselves and others. I don't know the figures, but suspect that a lot more hospital time and definitely a lot more police time is spent on dealing with those who overdo the booze.

[stevie21]

I think that the only reason that people defend smoking is that we're used to seeing smokers and it's socially acceptable to see someone with a fag in their mouth. If I insisted on going round pubs spraying mace around I'd quickly be stopped for fear of damaging other people's health. There's no valid reason that I can think of that justifies smoking in public places - it's just that no-one's yet been brave enough to ban it and risk 1) losing votes and 2) losing tax income.

[WoWo]

I'm a non-smoker, smoke doesn't bother me therefore I'm happy to be in a smoke filled pub, if it did bother me I'd simply not go to the pub. If the government were really that interested in peoples health then they could simply ban smoking.

 

[londondave]

As a 39 year old NON smoker and never have, I am looking forward to going out to a pub/club and being able to breath clean air and not come home reeking of fags in my hair and clothes. There is a proposal to issue smoking licences to some clubs/pubs etc, but I, as ex club promoter have already pointed out a loophole in this to the mayor and blair. So hopefully it will be an outright ban on public smoking.

[Artemis]

The point of the smoking ban is to protect the employees working in the establishment. The public have a choice about whether to enter a smoking allowed establishment.

I would think that establishments that wish to have an exemption would have to have contracts of employment that states the employees will be working in a smoking enviroment. Similar to the opt out clause for a maximum working week.

Having said that and as a smoker, I don't have a problem with a ban.

[zgma]

We have such a ban in California.  I think that it's very good.  As Artemis says, it's really for the workers in the pub... since my husband is a musician, he was really risking his health to go play gigs before the ban.  In addition, it's really not fair to non-smokers to say that if they can't deal with the smoke, just don't go to pubs.  Smokers can still go out to the bars now, but when they want to smoke, they do it out front or on the back patio area - a much better compromise.

 

As far as restaurants - now that California restaurants don't allow smoking, I have gotten used to that - I can't understand how anyone can smoke while they eat.  Even when a restaurant has a smoking section, the smoke still travels to the "non-smoking section".

[OBonio]

My local pub is 90% smokers.  It will kill the place if smoking was banned there.  As a smoker, I'm all for it.  The sooner I get a reason not to drink in the pub, or to stop smoking the better (ie, the less tax this thieving government will get out of me!!).

[undercovers]

I'm all for it - i think the ban would finally allow me to give up - i just wish they would hurry up and introduce it - it will vastly improve pubs and clubs and i think in the long run more people to go to them

[j2buttonsw]

As the worst kind of non-smoker (an ex-smoker) I heartily agree with the no smoking ban. When I was in America it was a joy to go out drinking and all the places still had "atmosphere/character/whatever". The thing I really love about it is it will affect the "social smokers" who never smoke unless its on a Friday/Saturday night, never buy fags so they bum them off their mates and don't smoke properly (you're supposed to inhale).

[sharp1]

Im one of these guys that never smokes unless im in a smoking environment. Normally thats a pub/club or round a friends house. If smoking was banned, it would stop me from smoking...i hate smokeing but just cant seem to say no when offered them! Althought this seems sad and weak, i really think this is the case for alot of 18 to 30 yr old people. If smoking is banned i and most of my friends can would go to the pub in a healthy environment without any pressure to smoke or breath in other peoples smoke. All the pubs have to do is stick a heater in there pub garden and people go out there for a quick puff.  No smoking in pubs can only be a good thing.

[Octavius]

I think this should happen as soon as possible.

 

And reading the other thread - if there was a ban in certain places that smokers would avoid those places.  I should think that is the point.

 

As a protest to this, perhaps all those inconsiderate smokers should protest by staying indoors smoking.  It might then encourage them to quit so that they can get a life.

[Octavius]

Oops, I got it the wrong way round as well.

Shoot me. (or smoke me out)

[BUNNY]

I smoke but I do agree with the ban.I've been in pubs in Dublin since the ban there and the atmosphere is very different,more sterile,but that will probably just take a bit of getting used to.Some pubs there have done up their outside courtyards by adding an awning,few chairs and tables and some heaters which allows smokers somewhere to nip out to if they want a smoke.Whilst I believe in the ban I think it would work better if there are areas where smokers could go to for a quick fag before rejoining their mates.

[GeordieSteve]

As a NON smoker this agnoys me. Smokers will either:

A) Cut down/quit smoking
B) Not go out as often

Either way the tax will have to be taken from somewhere else to make up for it (such as fuel)

[Liam Goody]

Either way the tax will have to be taken from somewhere else to make up for it (such as fuel)

Not neccesseraly......millions will be saved in the NHS because people will stop killing themselves and giving themselves Lung disease, Heat disease, Cancer....etc

[Hyphen]

I'm a smoker and I think its a great idea.  I often feel like I'm putting my smoke on other people and sometimes I feel sort of ashamed to be a smoker.  Its highly unfair on people who do not smoke as it is a matter of choice, and if you choose not to smoke, you shouldn't have to be subjected to everyone else's smoke.  Once the majority of smokers get used to it, it won't bother them about having to smoke in specific places, it will be second nature.  I also believe it is going to immensely cut down the number of smokers there are today cause I will be tempted to quit as I'm sure many others will be.