Smoking Ban

[BillStickers]

So, the Health Secratary has announced that a smoking ban will come into effect in England on July 1st 2007. Will this make a difference to you? Are you happy and will you be going to the pub more often? Are you angry that you will not be able to enjoy your drink and a smoke? Do you feel that whether or not you are a smoker this is another example of the domineering Nanny State dictating our lives and eroding our freedom? Personally I am a mix of the latter opinion, and looking forward to enjoying smoke free pubs - a hypocrite, if you like. any thoughts....
p.s., I realise this post is very Anglo-centric, the reason it is, is that I am surprised that the Ban is happening in England at all, when we seemed to be 'pussy-footing' around the issue half-heartedly unlike Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland.

[zipadeedodah]

I am a non-smoker, and I know very few people who do smoke. I hate really smokey pubs, not only does it make it harder to breathe properly, but you don't half stink when you get home. Not many of the pubs around me are like that though, so it won't really make a difference to the amount I go out.

I am happy about the ban, as I want the option to go out and not be inhaling other people's smoke. I think it's reasonable enough to expect people who choose to smoke and shorten their own lives to limit it to in their own homes and in open spaces.

[saxy_jag]

Most of the pubs I frequent are food pubs and tend to be non-smoking anyway, as is the theatre bar I often visit.

It's going to be lovely, though, knowing that I can visit any pub and enjoy a pint and some live music without being forced to breath in other people's muck, and without coming home wreaking of it.

I have quite a few friends and colleagues who play in bands and often perform in pubs. They need to breathe deeply to sing or play, and god knows what's happening to their lungs when they do. That's when I think of Roy Castle, who never smoked a ciggie in his life, but died of smoking-related lung cancer caused solely by passive smoking.

[Lonnie]

I'd like to here noxlumas's and whickermans views on this, they live in Ireland, and could give a first hand account of how its been affected by this ban, and, of course, anyone else who lives over there.

Personally, I think it will be a good thing, but all we can do, is wait and see.

[MrBen5]

Hmmm, i hope the smoking ban isnt misinterpretted wrongly by women...

[perky72]

Errrrrm...........It already is isn't it MrBen?????? ;-o

[perky72]

Anyway, back to the subject matter - I am with the rest of you here. I do wish they would widen the ban to include shopping centres too. There is nothing worse than walking out of a shop, when right in front of you someone has decided they can't wait for a ciggie and light up, and you get a mouthful of the smoke they have just exuded. it makes me sick. also, i have to say i make a point of saying 'thank you' to them for it.....although this gets ignored!!!

[ummmm]

I don't think so Mr Ben

[Ginger30]

Well I Iove a drink and a fag in a pub. But I can see the point of banning smoking - I mean it's obviously outrageous to inflict your life threatening habit on others. It's complex though - we do live in a SUPER-nanny state and I feel that the government takes over so many of the choices that should the individual's responsibility. However, the state does need to legislate in particular cases where one person's right to exercise choice negitively imacts on another. So what's the answer - I think the smoking ban is right, but can't there be exceptions for publicans, bar staff and punters who positively make the choice to smoke - ie smoking only pubs (no non-smokers unless they sign something)? that way - we would be able to both exercise choice and be responsible for the consequences. That, after all, is what being a responsible individual is all about ...

[sako 243]

as a non smoker in scotland i can say the ban is great.the smokers go outside for 5 mins for a fag andthats that.what a difference waking up after a sesh not stinking of fags .and there are no complaints from the smokers,most of whom agree it is a good move.

[chakka35]

Ginger30 is right: it's the universality of this law which is wrong, leaving no room for discretion in particular pubs. In my local the air control is so good that there is no smoky haze or smell even at the smoking end, so a ban is unnecessary.
The trouble is that, as the non-smoking (therefore mainly eating) area has expanded from one-third to half to two-thirds, the only part which still feels like a pub is the smoking end, which I, a non-smoker, now prefer. The rest looks, and is used, like a motorway caff. When the ban becomes universal the only place for smokers and non-smoking pub-lovers like me will be the pavement. I will take along my shooting-stick and a folding table and expect the pub to store it for me between visits.
It's a shame that the place where a bloke has always been entitled to enjoy a ciggie with his pint will be closed to him.
There are plenty of other places for anti-smokers to gather, aren't there?

[Bazile]

" in my local the air control is so good that there is no smoky haze or smell even at the smoking end , so a ban is unnecessary "

I doubt very much that because you THINK that you cant
' see ' or ' smell' any smoke - that there aren't any particles in the air all over the pub , contributing to passive smoking .

[BBWCHATT]

Why can't they have some places for smokers and some places for non-smokers?

[chakka35]

Oh come on, Bazile! Any level of smoke so low that you can't see or smell it could not possible cause harm to anyone.

[Bazile]

What about those staff who would want to work in a non smoking enviroment ?
Wouldn't it be a case of - this is a smoking pub , work or lose your job ?

[ThisSpace]

I don't smoke and never have done, so I won't be bothered by the ban. However, when I go out, I expect to come back smelling of smoke; it's something I don't even think about:- it's one of those everyday things. Just like I expect there to be smokers in a pub.

On the flip side, this ban will uncover the other not-so-pleasant things, like the smell of fat etc from the kitchen, and (something I have noticed even now, especially in chain bars) little midges trying to sit on and get in to my pint glass!

[ugly_bob]

The idea of it is to ban smoking in the workplace.

So, even at home, if someone comes round to mend your washing machine, you can't smoke.

In my local, both the landlord and landlady smoke and have no other staff, so why can't that be a smoking pub?

[Maaartahn]

I can happily say that I kicked the habit over 5 months ago and i can truly say I'm rid of it, I feel much better for it and I have more money. And I'm am absolutely for the ban being put in place and the sooner, the better, I've had enough of the smoke on my clothes, walking behind someone inhaling their crap, only what they should do is extend the ban so one can only smoke in their own houses, ban in the streets, stations, shops, absolutely everywhere!

[terrot]

Responses are typical of the way this once great country is slipping away, i'm a non smoker but surely smokers have rights to blah blah blah. you are all guilty of turning a great informative site into yet another chat room.