Smoking ban-good or bad?
 

From Sunday 26th March Scotland will ban smoking in all enclosed public places including works,pubs/clubs,schools etc.

do you think this is a good idea to help stop smoking altogether?

Well we know it won't stop smoking all together, but i think its better that you can actually go in a pub and not worry about the smoke etc. This is a good idea, but its going to cause a lot of trouble, and a lot of money!

I think its a great idea personally, obviously it wont ever stop smoking but its good for people who dont want to be around smoke where ever they go.

I think it's an infringement of our civil liberties. Many small businesses will close because of this. I object to the ban. I think it's unreasonable. I object to the government dictating to us about smoking and most of all, I object to Scotland being used to test it out a year before England.

BTW: I don't smoke.

I think its a good idea especially in restaurants. One of my pet hates smoking while people are trying to eat Yuk disgusting.

they should concentrate on crime. and ladies ggetting their pensions robbed off them even if they are old bigoted twats some of them.

Now they'll be ditching real crime to hunt for smokers. Just make a smoking room and non smoking room.

I disagree.

This smoking ban should be brought into FULL effect.

People smoking kill innocent people.
Passive smoking FACT.

BAN IT COMPLETELY.
It might make our nation healthier.

if we ban smoking that means everyone will be ********* each other and getting all angry with withdrawal symptoms. Its called cold turkey. People should simply stop smoking or smoke in designates areas in each pub..

Edited by Sunny_01 - not really appropriate for this forum

Humans are allowed free choice so they should be able to smoke if they want, BUT those who dont want to breathe in smoke should also be protected.

That said, isn't there a ban on certain classes of drugs in the UK? Effectively, it's the same thing.

We have a ban on smoking in public places in Ireland and I think it's great. Fair enough, if you want to smoke then do it where it doesn't effect other people.

It's great to be able to go to a bar/restaurant/any public place and be able to breathe properly. Thanks God we have it already in place in Ireland.

I agree with you Lance. People should be able to smoke anywere, but not places were its affecting other peoples health

Yeh, i agree cause other people shouldn't have to breathe it in, in pubs, restauruants etc.

But still, it would be sooo annoying if u wanted a cig when relaxin, having a drink but then have to go outside.

And Gladders, banning it all together, nooooo wayyyy!!

People smoke, people enjoy smoking, people are addicted. You cannot ban it all together. :rolleyes:

I know what you mean about realxing and stuff.

They can't ban smoking, thats harsh

I know! Even if i didn't smoke (i am stopping :laugh:) then i would still stay this.

Anyone who thinks they should ban smoking are off there trolleys.

If you ban smoking, why not ban alcohol, computers, everything else that is a danger to people's health.

I think it is good ,but then i dont smoke .

I dont smoke I hate it ( wasnt born with a chimney on my head )

Fair enough Lance.

Im also of the opinion that Cannabis should be legal.

Fair 'nuff. Personally, don't think it should be legalised but we all can't agree.:bigsmile:

I think everyone is pretty much OK with the Smoking Ban here now. At first smokers were a bit peeved with it but just seems like a way of life now.

I think its a great idea coz i went into a restaurant today and instead of smelling stale smoke covering up the food you just smelt the food...it was a lot better and it makes the place fresher:laugh:

Great Idea.
We had it first and i think it should be brought in all over Europe.

You weren't born with clothes but I'm guessing you still wear them..:laugh:

I think it's great.
Giving people the right to endanger peoples health because they've been stupid enough to get addicted to a potentially lethal drug was ridiculous in the first place.

I agree entirely with you, Stropz.

Rather than an enforced blanket ban, I think that pubs & clubs should have been given the choice to become smoking or non-smoking. Then, if you didn't smoke and didn't want to sit in a smoky atmosphere, you could go to a non-smoking venue ........and vice versa.

To bring enforcement to the arguement.
How much does smoking cost the much in debt NHS each year.
were talking millions and millions if not just scraping near the billion mark.
People with smoke related diseases is on the rise.
And we all know it leads to an earlier death.
We've all seen the graphic pictures yet some still smoke.

A complete ban would cut disease. And would cut the NHS bill. also cutting tax. in the future. Although the government gets a lot of money from tabacco sales. It pays double back to the NHS leaving it crippled in the end.

Smoking isnt just a health scare its a national scare of whether our very restricted hospitals as it is can cope with it.

Doesn't alcohol kill people? Doesn't alocohol cause illnesses? Doesn't alcohol cost the NHS?

But still, i presume you drink alcohol.

Actually. Alcohol to me is a once in a blue moon thing.
Twice a year if im lucky.
Probably a lot more this year.
But i dunno. Alcohol has that drink driving effect.
But i would'nt mind the band on alcohol unlike many people my age.
Alcohol is reason for many of my mates being pricks. So yeah.

Im not with the whole drink every weekend club.:thumbs:

i think personally.... no matter what they do every1 will continue still doing it! do you rly think for 1 minute ppl are guna stop smoking in areas just like that! no way!!!!:rolleyes:

Its actually been very suprising how good its going. No one is smoking in pubs anymore. But the bad thing is that your findin loads of fag ends outside in the street.

Last night i seen people standing outside the pubs in the rain .. they must be despirate for a fag

yeah... that must be bad because smoking is apparently so addictable people will do anything for 1 if theyre desperate aswel

Hate it it stinks and it looks so ugly:nono::nono:

hmmmmmm some ppl tend 2 have smoked LMAO hehe it is bad 4 u tho!

I am one of those filthy smokers sorry!

I have to say though I agree with the ban! from having my children I have gone outside to smoke and if it is to cold then I dont bother. I hate smoke filled pubs and there is nothing worse than someone smoking near to you when you are eating.

I dont cost the NHS any money Gladders I pay for private health care for me and my family, so that argument doesnt really wash with me. What about the drug addicts, what about the drinkers, what about the obese people they are all a burden on the NHS but does that make them any less entitled to good quality health care - I dont think so!

We all have choices that affect our health and we are all entitled to those choices as long as we do not affect other people in the process!

hey Sunny are you from the north east? hey i'm from Newcastle how are you?

I think you are right with the smoking. Everybody is entitled to do what they want and have their own decisions. But i would be lying if i said i had never tried it! I still now and again, im not one of these chain smokers i smoke socially i would say, i cut down about 3 or 4 weeks ago

Hi Krissy - yes I am from the NE actually costa del Consett to be precise!

I think I am a bit of a strange smoker, I dont like the smell of smoke in houses, cars etc...

I still think it is about choice and that includes peoples choice not to be covered in my second hand smoke - I am more than happy to stand outside so as not to polute other peoples lungs!

aww bless you sunny! ooo Anthony's from there:laugh:

Yeah, i think it depends really, although i only smoke when i feel like it, i havent had a cigarette for about 2 weeks or so. Well i cut down about 4 weeks ago, Sometimes i rarely ever smoke In houses and places like that it's optional but i would never ever smoke in my own home because my parents always made me go in the back garden for them, even though they smoked really heavily, but i have my baby niece and 2 nephews coming round and it's for their health also isnt it? If others want to smoke around me then i dont mind that at all! But i would simply respect the fact if people didnt like me smoking around them to move though!

My uncle smokes but hates smokin in the house restaurants etc etc. The only place he really smokes is in pubs so he isnt very happy with the ban.

Yeah, none of my family smoke at all now i dont think, my sister does now and again but she has a baby now so she doesnt do it any more. Yeah i think the ban in pubs is going to have a really big effect on people somehow and i really dont think people will agree with it.

Agreed, Stropz. I don't think that passive smoking should be forced on anyone. But as has been suggested elsewhere in this thread, pubs, bars, restaurants, etc. should be given the choice whether to be smoking or non-smoking, or allowed to have a designated area indoors where smoking is permitted, at the very least. I think it's pretty bizarre that most of the controversy surrounds smoking in pubs and bars, anyway. Anyone would think that alcohol consumption was good for you or something. I think it's far more of a problem than tobacco ever has or ever will be. Nobody has ever caused an RTA from driving under the influence of nicotine. The Police, courts and casualty departments don't cost the taxpayer billions each year as a result of smoking-related accidents and acts of violence, either. I'm sure a survey of the UK prison population would reveal a significant number of inmates for whom alcohol played a major part in the crimes they've committed, too.

As for passive smoking, there's no doubt that smoking in the company of others has an effect on their health too, although to what degree is still somewhat open to question. But when that's compared to the damage that alcohol abuse has done to the lives of others, there's really no comparison.


Your post cancels out your point. The fact is that without the tax revenue from tobacco, there wouldn't be enough in the kitty to fund the NHS. Raising taxation on alcohol significantly would save the NHS far more money, as well as cutting crime and taking a considerable amount of pressure off the Police, courts and prisons. It would also make the streets a hell of a lot safer, too.

It's a ludicrous situation when supermarkets are selling discounted alcohol and even having '3 for 2' offers, whilst corner shops and off-licenses either willingly sell alcohol to kids, or to adults whom they're fully aware are buying it on their behalf. Each budget sees another rise in the taxation on tobacco, whilst a penny or two is added to alcohol, if it's not ignored completely. The fact is that smoking isn’t fashionable and people consider it to be a ‘dirty’ habit, so the government gets kudos for addressing it. Alcohol is far more damaging, but the public perception is altogether different, so no government is going to risk doing anything about it. Proposing health warning labels on alcohol doesn’t really cut it when it’s advertised freely pretty much everywhere.

About passive smoking, there's nothing to stop the person who doesn't want smoke in their face from moving. Especially in places like pubs. If there's a majority of non-smokers, then fair enough, put the cigarette away, but to ban smoking altogether is ludicrous. Like Stropz, I hate the fact that Scotland is being used as a guinea pig.