Will the smoking ban next year really improve the situation for everyone?

Question

You bet it will!

I am sick of sitting in the inadequate non smoking areas in pubs and having ignoramuses ‘spark up’ right next to me. No matter how polite you are about mentioning that they are sitting at a smoke free table, they always get the a*** and give you some attitude or attempt to ignore you. The fact is that they know perfectly well what they’re doing and they’re just annoyed that you had the audacity to challenge their ‘right’ to smoke.

The funniest thing is when they go through the same old charade of looking around and seemingly discovering, for the first time, that their local has two tables in the corner where you can’t smoke. “Oh right! I thought you could smoke here?” says the buffoon, incredulously.

Next summer, if it’s lashing it down with rain, I won’t be depressed, I’m going to be laughing into my beer when this abusive minority are consigned to smoking in the downpour.

How do you feel about it and what are your experiences?

Answer 1

I disagree entirely, in fact, smoking should either be encouraged or the tobacco tax should be increased, otherwise we face a severe problem.

The facts are that right now tobacco taxation does not cover the very high costs of the related cancer treatment. So, here’s the dilemma, if smoking decreases then tax revenue will fall immediately but we have hundreds of thousands of precancerous victims already in the system and in five to ten years time, no money to treat them. With the government unable to pay, there’s no way the tobacco companies are going to foot the bill because they know what’s going on and they’re clever enough not to lay themselves open to attack. Also there’s a nasty side effect on the pensions crisis by those who are fortunate enough to avoid a premature death causing a further drain on the system.

Answer 2

Well I live In Colrado and we just got our smoking ban in July, I went on T.V. kind of complaining about the ban, and was even on national news. Well here we are in October and I dont mind the ban at all! I work in a bar and I go home smelling better, I dont smoke as much now while I'm working and the bar is so much cleaner. My sales have not dropped what so ever also. People think it's such a huge deal, and really it's like there really isnt anything different then what it used to be. So I think right now people b**ch, give it a while, it's really not as bad as they are making it out to be. And yes I am a smoker.

Answer 3

Well there very good questions.
In my opinion I think it will improve the situation for most people. Passive smoking kills like 1 in 20 people that suffer from lung cancer I think. Unfortunately it won't improve the lives of people who's family/friends smoke at home. I was sitting on a train once from when I was about 8 years old. Some b******d lit up a cigarette, it smelt horrible, it made me cough and it wasn't doing any good to anyone on the train was it? Now I don't suffer from asthma but I start coughing and gagging if anyone lights up a cigarette near me. Maybe I should wear a new badge - allergic to smoke. I'm sure a lot of people would buy them of me too.

Answer 4

That is the way it started in the states, too. Here in California, it's been many years since the ban took place, and those "ignorant" responses are long gone. It will take awhile, but then it will become old habit to NOT smoke, and soon you'll be looking at the old days being amazed at how smoking was allowed. It sure is much more pleasant in public for us non-smokers these days.

Answer 5

Hmm lets say there are two bars and one of them permits smoking and the other doesn't. Me as a smoker would probably go to the one that permits smoking cause smoking and beer goes hand in hand. Well the law will have to be forced upon inorder to make it effective and that by any means is no easy feat.

Answer 6

It seems that you might be in need of anger management, I smoke, and I do try to refrain, when people around me dint, but I also expect the same courtesy from non-smokers, which I rarely receive. Most bars, where I live, are smoker friendly, but also have a large non smoking area. It has been my experience, that people who dint smoke, are the ones who are confrontational about smoking, even in place where smoking is permitted. Making snide comments,rude gestures, ET AL. Also why would it make you feel happy, to see someone standing in the rain, doing something, that is legal?

Answer 7

I feel it will make some places better and people like you a lot happier at your regular hang out. Not every place will have to abide by the ban there are certain places you could still find smoking, so just keep that in mind.

Answer 8

it'll be more or less the same.. someone wants to smoke they'll find outlets.. which are more annoying than this....

i get annoyed with smokers more now because of all the bans.. they'll go out of the way to get a smoke and i'm in that way now.. before i wasn't.

i lost the interest in cancer sticks when the tobacco flavor and smell left and that chemical rat turd stench became more part of the smoke. it's not the same i can't see how these people can choke down cigarettes now days.

either or... i rather them smoke at a bar... or the smoking section than under my g'damned balcony!

ARGH!

either that or take up pot smoking.. least that's not full of chemicals.. yet.

Answer 9

Chicago has had a smoking ban for about a year and it is wonderful. You don't wake up the next morning with your hair smelling like smoke, and your coat doesn't smell like smoke. And when I was pregnant I had a serious problem breathing in restaurants because of the smoke.

Answer 10

I live in Florida.... there are no smoking laws. We can still smoke in bars, and in places they get permits to do so. I don't mind going outside to smoke because I smoke outside all the time. My kids dont need to suffer from my habit, so I take it outside. I don't care either way how the laws work. If I can't smoke inside I'll take my happy smoking butt outside and light up :)