Full Smoking Ban?

[sp1814]

Should the UK follow New Zealand's lead and work towards a full smoking ban?

I think it's a very brave move, and personally I'd be all for it.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/09/new-zealand-to-ban-smoking-for-next-generation-in-bid-to-outlaw-habit-by-2025

[SparklyKid]

All the TV ads end up with, "That's cheap I shall go ahead"

[naomi24]

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/feb/11/obesity-bigger-killer-than-smoking-in-england-and-scotland-study

[dave50]

Yes naomi, perhaps we should ban fast food as well.

[Spicerack]

Don't you think old age will interfere with your Utopian vision of a fit and healthy populace that doesn't need/use the NHS, Sp?
After all, you can't ban old age. (or can you)

[SparklyKid]

Hi naomi24, interesting. Off now to beat Bill at cribbage ,lol.

My daily passion.

[ToraToraTora]

most of the TV ads are for over 50s, high premium low cover, zero investment, usually designed for funerals. proper Life Assurance is much more complex to put in place.

[naomi24]

Go get him, sparkly!

[sp1814]

Spicerack

Everyone will get old and die, but if the population as a whole moved away from smoking then people would stand a much better chance of enjoying those last years (and indeed living longer) rather than lying in a hospital bed coughing up yellow sputum.

One in three contract cancer at some point in their lives - if one form were preventable, don’t you think it’d be a good idea to make it as difficult as possible for people to start a behaviour that is proven to lead to it?

[Togo]

Tora ... You like to ride a motor bike. You wear leathers and riding boots and helmet. You no doubt like to have a "run out" and enjoy the bike. When you stop or have a break you are wearing clothing that is covered in toxic particles from brakes, tyres, diesel or petrol emissions. These particles are deadly, according to the science. Do you ever then enter retail premises, licenced premises, public communal area, or even your own home still wearing them? Those garments are as deadly to everyone around you as were the clothes of asbestos workers to everyone who came into contact with them. Do the rest of us just move away and keep our distance whilst biningly smiling and hoping that you are only killing yourself?

[pixie374]

It gets more and more like a nanny state. Let people choose for themselves, or at worst, treat it like an addiction.

[ToraToraTora]

my mum died of lung cancer at age 69. She started smoking at 12 and spent the rest of her life trying to give up. She never managed it. I am one of 6 children, mum dad they all smoked. I was lucky the whole idea repulsed me from an early age. My mum always said I'd start smoking with everyone else but I knew I would not.

[ToraToraTora]

togs, as I said above, It's not the toxicity or lack of it that bothers me. it's the disgusting smell that gets in your hair and clothes etc. I know that there are many more poisons out there than second hand smoke and I accept that it's probably not that bad medically but that's not the point for me. Smokers inflict their habit on those around them, that's the point.

[naomi24]

Conversely, TTT, I knew a lady who smoked all her life and died age 84. In her later years she became housebound and smoking was her only real pleasure. Would I have taken that away from her? No, I wouldn't.

[pixie374]

Sorry to hear that, ttt. But many have bad experiences with different lifestyles, traffic accidents etc etc and we don't ban everything.
In older people, weight is the best indication of life expectancy. Not necessarily even obesity, just being bigger or heavier.
I can't understand your personal dislike, but not everyone feels the same.

[pixie374]

I can...

[royfromaus]

Is there an explanation anywhere from the NZ government on exactly how this is going to work?

[sp1814]

pixie374

It's not actually being introduced to the UK - so this isn't further proof of the nanny state. The legislation in New Zealand will continually raise the age at which its legal to buy cigarettes, so that people who smoke now, can continue, but they won't (fingers crossed) be replaced with new smokers because kids won't have the opportunity to even start.

And who wants kids to start smoking???

[ToraToraTora]

naomi: "Conversely, TTT, I knew a lady who smoked all her life and died age 84. In her later years she became housebound and smoking was her only real pleasure. Would I have taken that away from her? No, I wouldn't. " - of course not, I know it can actually be more dangerous to stop after a lifetime of smoking. That's the beauty of the NZ system. existing smokers can carry on and the population will be weaned off it in a generation.

[sp1814]

royfromaus:

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/historic-step-towards-smokefree-future

[Teapots1]

Smokers inflict their habit on those around them. What a silly statement, when its been banned for some time apart from outside. But it seems that none smokers along with x smokers still want to complain about people who are trying to give up smoking by using a vape, again this product can only be used outside. The latter is also recommended by the NHS, and they may even be supplied free of charge for anyone who wants to kick the tobacco. There has been a massive decrease in tobacco use. What more do you want?