What is stopping britain bringing in an anti smoking ban as per Ireland.

[nedflanders]

As polls show the majority of us want one? PS. What about a news poll on the issue AB editor?

[j2buttonsw]

As the worst kind of non-smoker (an ex-smoker), I think it is a good thing. Even more so as it affects the amateur smokers. We all know them: they don't smoke at any time other than after a couple of Bacardi Breezers and they always ponce off of you! NY is a great place to go out drinking and it doesn't diminish the atmosphere (although I know my smoking friends will disagree). Now, where did I put me pipe?

[incitatus]

i wish they would. or make it legal to throw rotten fruit at smokers in public

[sft42]

Because the government will be scared it will lose votes....anything that negatively impacts on peoples lifes seems to be a much more emotive issue than a possible good thing......if a party says they will raise taxes but make better schools and hospitals no one hears the second bit cause they have all started grumbling about higher taxes.....such id the way with a smoking ban....more people will start shouting about it and grumbling (and the civil liberties mob will get in on it as well) and drown out the moderate majority who are in favour....the Irish have had the right idea for a good few years now of governments doing unpopular things that actually turn out to be good for the voters and the land though they don't realise it at the time.....the recent carrier bag tax being a good example....A poll might be nice Ed!

[jjf2003]

Because the government coins in plenty of revenue from tobacco sales. They're quite happy to tax the sale of tobacco, while stamping messages like 'SMOKING KILLS' on the front of fag packets. Talk about double standards!

[rinkytink]

What's the deal here ??
Why is there a need to ban smoking in any bar or restaurant ? You put a big sign on the front door 'We allow/do not allow smoking'.
It's simple....you either go in or you don't ?

[thewillow]

It's not just in bars and restaurants in Ireland that there is a smoking ban. It's in all enclosed workplaces. This means that an office building cannot even have a smoking room as that is defined as an 'enclosed workplace' for the person who would have to clean it. Smoking in company cars is also banned.

[andy hughes]

I think it's about time the Government got behind its healt advisors and did the sensible thing - ban smoking in public places. It's not use trotting out the 'personal freedom' argument - smoking is a choice, inhaling its polution and stinking of other people's smoke is not. Hey smokers - have you ever watched yourself smoking in a mirror> Try it, it'll encourage you to give it up!

[IndieSinger]

Don't get me wrong, I would whole-heartedly agree with a ban (or at least a diminishment) on smoking in public places. But I did get slightly miffed at the number of irish bar staff interviewed on TV lately who have said something along the lines of "I always found it difficult to breathe before, so now it's much better" - if smoking makes it difficult for them to breathe, why did they apply for a job in a pub? I'm asthmatic and wouldn't consider getting a job where there were a lot of smokers. Secretly, I would partake in incitatus' second idea... :)

[Greedyfly]

It doesn't bother me either way to be honest - I am a NON smoker but I am happy enough to sit in a no smoking area. It wouldn't sway me either way.

[wildwood]

Rinkytink has the right answer - Leave it up to each individual bar/restaurant so prostective patrons can decide before they go in.

[tracymort]

I think it's good. For example I worked in a pub for a while and got pregnant with my youngest. I felt so guilty about the smoke i left asap! It also annoys me that "family" pubs that allow children in allow smoking around the kids. We have had to miss out on kids parties in such pubs because i won't subject my sons to smoke like that!

[tracymort]

oh and it'll put an end to unfair breaks! Because i didn't smoke i didn't get the cigarette breaks all the others had!

[Gef]

If not smoking is so popular then why has there not been a huge increase in the number of non-smoking bars/restaurants?

[IndieSinger]

I don't think it's a question of being more popular, I think it's about being healthier.

[monty0703]

How many non-smokers pollute the environment in other ways? How many non-smokers drive cars which churn out pollutants that may be linked to in increase in asthma among other illnesses? I don't agree with an outright ban as people have the right to indulge in their legal (albeit nasty) habit. I think bars etc. should be allowed to decide themselves if they want to enforce a non-smoking policy. btw, I am a non-smoking person.

[rinkytink]

thewillow - you say that it is not just a ban in bars and restaurants but a ban in all enclosed public spaces. In most places there already is a ban on smoking in enclosed areas.

How many shops, taxis, buses, trains, libraries, work places, museums, galleries, coffee shops, waiting rooms etc. etc. do you know of that allow smoking ? There is no need for a blanket ban.

I'd be persuaded to have a ban in restaurants (but really feel that it should be left up to the owner) but pubs ?? Pubs are the only place left for the smoker - leave us alone !!

If people don't want smoking in pubs why are there not hundreds of non-smoking pubs around ?

If you banned smoking in my local there would be no customers left !! Cigarettes and alcohol - they go together !

[nedflanders]

Yeah they go together like lung cancer and liver disease ! What about the poor buggers who work as barmaids/bartenders who have to put up with passive choking at their workplace? What if they can't get a job and need the job/money to survive or bring up their kids? Why should they run the risk of having their life cut short because they want to work. I work in the construction industry and if any of our employees come into contact with asbestos they have to have a note put on their medical records stating that they have been exposed to asbestos. Whats the real difference between this and said barmaid?

[becks]

Like rinkytink said - get a job in mcdonalds or sainsburys or something if you don't want that, most pubs i know have no smoking at the bar signs, and i used to work in a pub and would refuse anyone who smoked at the bar. I'm a smoker, and as ,long as there are decent no smoking areas in pubs/restaurants i can't see what the big deal is. if they banned amoking in pubs, people wouldn't go in them, st least where i live, and more to the point, jjf is right - the governement take about 80% of the money paid for a packet of fags so why would they stop that? i think it should be up to the patron and individuals whether they go places or don't but a blanket ban is ridiculous. although i think banning smoking on trains is a good idea, most are but getting to work reeking like that is minging and like i said, i'm a smoker !

[incitatus]

rinky and becks- the =big deal is that any enclosed area in which you practice your foul habit reeks of it, makes me physically sick and gives me a headache, hence my selfish desire for a ban! non-smoking areas, dont make me laugh a) people smoke in them b) peoples smoke drifts over from the smoking areas. Where are all theese non-smoking pubs? I cant think of a single one. maybe people dont smoke at the bar but they do everywhere else. Its a foul habit and you should all be banished to toxic waste dumps like Hammpstead heath to shoot up with the other junkies. I try to remain balanced and unbiased in all my answers. You may have noticed.

[studio 49]

I used to smoke but havent had a cig for 4 years. I really enjoyed smoking but it really is an unsociable pastime. What other habit causes such problems. There are many in industries forced to inhale smoke without protection and a total ban would eliminate this issue. I work in the brewery trade and have to endure'committee' meetings where im cooped up in a small room with maybe 8 smokers. I reak of smoke when I come out. My clothes smell and its not cheap getting suits cleaned every week. There smoke is costing me money, my health and making me uncomfortable.