Should smoking be banned in public places?

[Dakota]

I have been reading this article on BBC News:

http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=102&&&edition=1&ttl=20051025152206

I would like to hear the views of *you* - the general public rather than what the Cabinet think.....

[january_bug]

Again - you don't know me, so don't start.

Jimmers - you are right, when the market fails, regulation is needed. I think, on reflection, I should concede that there is probably market failure here. I still feel that a certain level of danger is ok, after all, your wife's card allows her to come into contact with a small amount of radiation, before the regulation kicks in to protect her. Therefore, I still feel, that with separate rooms, and good ventilation throughout, smokers should be allowed inside, even if well away from others! Landlords who can't afford this, can just make the smokers stand out the back, but they could at least give us umbrellas if it's raining!

I saw that someone (possibly you jimmers) suggested a separate building for smokers... might this just be a different pub!?! If consumers demanded such a place, and people were willing to work there, I think it would be ridiculous to ban it, assuming everyone had optimal information about the dangers of smoking (passive and active, so to speak).

[Haggisdj]

ooooh! Touchy !!

[Dakota]

No need to be rude Haggis :)

[maggie01]

I have just been listening to Roy Castles wife on the news.Encase anyone doesn't remember he died of lung cancer caused through passive smoking. He did not smoke himself. He got this through working in clubs where other people smoked. Everyone has a right to smoke if thats what they want to do but it would be so nice to go out for a drink without coming home smelling of smoke. One thing I find annoying is someone who lights up and sits with the cigarette at sort of ear height so that the smoke goes over the person sitting next to or behind them. Men and woman spend a lot of money on expensive aftershave and perfume and then light up and all you can smell then is the smoke. Thats going off the subjec a bit I know but my daughter used to do that. Could never see the point.

[Haggisdj]

I've been a dj in pubs and clubs for 32 years now and every night when I come home it's the same thing, the smell of smoke in my clothes.

Out of respect I used to shower before I went to bed because my ex was a non-smoker as well and hated the smell on me and my clothes.

[libertie]

I will be quite happy up here in Bonnie Scotland when it is banned in public places, it will be nice to go out in the evening and enjoy a meal / drink in a smoke free restaurant / bar, it will be even nicer if you are standing around in a busy club or suchlike and not have to worry about smokers bumping into you and burning a hole in your clothes......agree about the smell too, I find my clothes and even my hair smell of smoke yuk!! And yes I know that not all smokers are careless with their ciggies but many are!!

[january_bug]

A personal attack from someone who's never addressed me before, and doesn't know a thing about me - I think I'm entitled to be p'd off about that, yes.

So the general opinion seems to be that non-smokers object to:

1. Health risks from passive smoking


2. The smell

So again, if smokers are separate, but INSIDE, what's the problem? We/they wouldn't be harming you at all!!

Aside of course, from Jimmers's point about staff, which I still feel is a problem, but smaller than is being made out by anti-smoking lobbyists.

[Buddy]

Jan-bug.That wasnt a personal attack at all.You quite rightly vocalise your opinion very articulately but if someone offers another opinion which does not concur with yours I am sure they are not targeting you - they are only exercising their rights to an opinion.

I am an ex smoker and now actually get the boak (scottish word) at the smell of smoke at times.I resent the fact that smokers have taken for granted their right to smoke without thinking of people who choose not to.Now you would appear to be having this right taken away in public places you are up in arms.Just accept it-get on with it and appreciate the non-smokers who have had to accept it for centuries.

Much bleating about nothing

[january_bug]

I am absolutely in agreement with the idea of creating bigger and significantly better smoke free areas.

Buddy - my problem is that it IS a personal attack. I'm sure you've seen me say before that I strongly dislike, no, HATE, sweeping generalisations. Making statements about "all smokers", especially starting with a highly sarcastic "sorry january bug" is an attack on me. I don't profess to know how other users smell, so I'd prefer it if they didn't make assuptions about me based on one habit of mine, that I exercise rarely, and make a great effort not to impose upon others. I am a very considerate smoker, but if others cannot appreciate that such a person exists, that's their look out, not mine.

[january_bug]

PS Buddy, I am in agreement with your middle paragraph IF you will concede that the word "some" or even "most" should precede the word "smokers" on every ocassion in that paragraph.

I know you don't need, and probably don't want, my agreement, but you know what I mean here I hope! :-)

[Buddy]

Sorry Jan-Bug-I thought you were taking exception to the postings just above.I appreciate that stating smokers was a generalisation (pinched your word!) but I hope you realise I wasnt referring to you in the rest of my posting - it was just a general response.

[january_bug]

Oh goodness buddy - I didn't think YOU were attacking me, no! I was just responding to your comment about my comment about Haggis and Loosehead's comments! :-)

Is it me, or is this all getting a bit confusing. Think I need to go outside and have a cigarette so I can work all this out!! :-p

[january_bug]

See 10TC - we can agree - it is possible, on rare ocassions!!!!

What sticks in the throat for me, is that there is one perfectly good reason for this policy: non-smokers don't like being in smokey atmospheres and there are health implications for them of inhaling second hand smoke. Fine, give them smoke-free spaces, I quite agree.

But WHY does the government feel the need to give us all this ROT about protecting workers and trying to reduce the number of people smoking!?! It's none of their business if I smoke or not, so long as I don't inflict that on others (or as an economist would say, so long as I don't create externalities). It's just so patronising and intrusive of them. The policy is fine, it's their stupid reasons that make me more inclined to object!

[maggie01]

Nina Wadia on loose women was saying that she had a bad throat and when she went to the doctors he told her she should give up smoking. She had to have an operation to scrape some nodules from her throat and she doesn't smoke. It was caused she says from other peoples smoke. I know people will say theres still no proof but thats good enough for me

[Dakota2]

Maggie, how can you be so sure it was passive smoking that caused Ninas' nodules? I have done some research and there is many other causes for these, including:

• Allergies


• Type 'A' Personality (person who is often tense or anxious)


• Singing


• Coaching


• Talking Loudly


• Drinking caffine and alcohol

You cannot accept what she says at face value without question.