"smokers complain about their rights"!

[R1Geezer]

http://news.sky.com/s..._Beaches_And_Streets_
What about our rights, to not breath their poisons?
They've had it all their own way up to relatively recently, yet they still cannot understand why society has had enough of their disgusting filth. Why are smokers so selfish?

[jomifl]

The government wins doubly from smokers, they get the revenue from tobacco tax and then the smokers die earlier than they would have done so the government saves on pension payouts. Smoking will therefore never be banned.

[hc4361]

If a smoker dies from smoking it is usually a slow, nasty death that costs the NHS a fortune; never mind treating the smoker's children for the recurring chest infections, asthma, glue ear and numerous other ailments that have been directly linked to passive smoking.
Or the cost of keeping a double amputee who has lost his or her legs through smoking.
In Derbyshire alone the fire service had to attend 45 house fires directly caused by cigarette smoking - in one year.
"Fires caused by smoking kill more people than any other kind of fire and account for a third of all accidental fatal fires in the home."

[ummmm]

My Dad died from liver cancer.....due to alcohol. Should we ban that as well?

[weecalf]

No one .ever had to call the police because some one had to much to smoke

[hc4361]

No, the vast majority of drinkers drink occasionally, very often going weeks with drinking alcohol.
The vast majority of smokers can't get through a working day without needing a fag.

There are healthy limits for drinking alcohol, and alcohol does have some health benefits.
There is no healthy limit for smoking tobacco, and there is no health benefit at all.

A drinker who abuses alcohol is an alcoholic, but anyone who uses cigarettes is a smoker,

[joeluke]

Lets all feel sorry for all those poor hard done by smokers

No one is saying you can't smoke, just that you can't smoke in public places

Non smokers rights to not breathe your toxic fumes far outweigh your 'right' to smoke where you like

[hc4361]

No one .ever had to call the police because some one had to much to smoke

No, but there are plenty of examples where the police have been called because of criminal activity related to smoking.
http://www.thisisglou...2-detail/article.html
http://www.thisisglou...5-detail/article.html

[ummmm]

A drinker who abuses alcohol is an alcoholic

Not true hc....an alcoholic NEEDS to drink.

[Dris]

You cant lash your fag ends down -my daughter got fined by a Dog Warden for this (I know)-£60 fine. I live oppo a Church building and people come out the fire escape (rather than the front of the building) and walk about and blast their reek into my open window and then lash their butts down -it looks like a tip.My OH doesnt even smoke in the house-that annoys me.
HabDabs -youve annoyed me-re your off topic remarks re Bikers.
Apart from that I think the vast majority are quite happy not to foist their habits on others.My OH has cut down drastically -said its the best thing for him -he just goes out for a few puffs then nips it-same if we're out.

[weecalf]

Good point but were they smoking at the time or had they nicked in case they were nicked.

[HabDabs]

hc4361 How many have left the chip pan on because of drink and started a fire. Go in any A & E on a Friday and Saturday night and see the crowds of drunks waiting for treatment.
How many times have you heard someone say i just have the odd one or two to be sociable.
They need a fix the same as a smoker.
Ban them and the smelly bikers those that think the law does not apply to them.

[MarkRae]

> But let's not allow a good scientific study get in the way of self-righteous rhetoric...

Absolutely! That would be "un-AB"...

[Andyvon]

hc4361 -

How can you imply that alcohol has such a limited affect? Alcohol related incidents are responsible for 80% of all police time and up to 6 hours every night. How much police time is taken up dealing with smoking related causes?
The cost to the NHS of treating alcohol related diseases is far more than that of treating smoking related ones. Hundreds of thousands of cases of domestic violence occur every week caused by alcohol and equal numbers of families live in misery caused by alcohol abuse. One in 13 of the population (including children) is an alcoholic. Alcohol causes more damage, violence and death that drug abuse or smoking put together. I could go on but won't bother. You'll probably ignore it.

I don't smoke but I don't drink alcohol either. I'm always amazed how many people are happy to attack smoking then leap to the defence of drinking which causes far more problems and costs far more money than smoking ever did.

[Andyvon]

Just to add,

I really think the Islamic countries have the right idea about alcohol - ban it!

[MarkRae]

Very few countries, Muslim or otherwise, have a total ban on alcohol. Some try to ban Muslims specifically from drinking, but the vast majority permit non-Muslims to drink mainly in an attempt to boost tourism.