smoking ban england ......1st of july 2007!?

Question

The smoking ban in public places in england is set to come into force on 1st july 2007.

Do you think this is another peice of evidence that the govenment is trying to control us and tell us what to do or a good idea, which could save lives?

Answer 1

The government will always controll us-there's no getting away from that. I have been living in scotland for 3 months now, and have been working in a pub for the duration, and i've yet to make up my mind whether its a good thing or not. As a non smoker, i can see the benifits of not stinking of smoke or inhaling second hand smoke all night. However on the flip side, if i really hated stinking of ciggeretts and inhaling second hand smoke, i wouldn't work in a smokey enviroment, and i would stay away from similar enviroments. What i DON'T think is a good thing is crowds of 20 to 30 people gathering outside a pub/club for a smoke-in the pouring rain. I think proper ventilation and/or a beer garden. They are fantastic. especially with BBQs.

Answer 2

Just get used to it. It's been Law in Scotland and Ireland for ages.
I smoke and I think it's a great idea. Smoking is a really anti-social habit, and I don't even smoke in my own flat, out of respect for the people who come round that don't, and hate the smell, and the damage to their health.
It's been no surprise that a total ban is coming into force.
20 years ago you could have a smoke on the upstairs of a bus, and smoke on a train.
Slowly, the areas where smoking is acceptable have been reduced.
I'd like to see something more done about underage drinking, and the violence caused by inebriated people.
I think it's a disgrace seeing cigarette stubs littering the streets, but I also think it's a disgrace to see them covered over with chewing gum.
There will be the nay-sayers who think this is an invasion of their civil liberties, but I bet they'd be moaning if I threw hot coffee over them, just because I could.
Peoples health is far more important, and many smokers agree with the decision.

Answer 3

I used to smoke but don't any more. I hate smelling of smoke but loved smoking and have to admit to the odd cigarette every now and then. But ... I would like to know that when I go out I can choose to eat in a non-smoking or fume-filled restaurant depending on my mood, this is after all my life and my decision.

The majority of people I know don't smoke and don't like the smell of smoke but honestly feel that to be wrapped in cotton wool by an over-protective government is extremely undermining - we are all capable of choosing where we go and what we do.

I think that the government is trying too hard to be all things to all people - at some point someone will feel discriminated against - smokers will bemoan the smoking ban just as non-smokers complain about passive smoke in their favourite watering holes.

The best thing would have been to insist on a percentage of both smoking or non-smoking options in the UK and allocating grants/bonuses to those who converted to non-smoking.

... that said, the best thing would have been to focus on important social issues like homelessness, underage drinking or drug abuse. Unfortunately once the anti-tobacco lobbyists have their way they will simply move onto something else ... watch this space!

Answer 4

In Colorado (USA) we have had a smoking ban since July 1st, of this year. If a person gets caught smoking within 15 feet of a public place they get a $250 fine.

Answer 5

Freedom of choice. It should be up to the publican or restaurant or who ever if they want to allow smoking or not. People will make up their mind with their feet in the end and it might naturally become more profitable to have a non smoking establishment. But to force it on them is Big Brother and Nanny state combined. Soon it'll get to the state where we see people lurking behind bushes to have a secret smoke, maybe underground smoking dens similar to the American days of prohibition. Ostricising addicts is not the way to go. (Hubby smokes, I don't) What next? Not allowed on a bus because you smell of smoke?

Answer 6

Seeing as we are all slowly dying from carbon monoxide poisoning and stress I don't thing that the government cares that much about us. Fair enough it may save a few lives for the people who work in bars all their lives but I think that it's a weak effort. We should ban drinking in bars too and maybe that would stop drink driving fatalities and violence due to drunkness. It all helps.

Answer 7

It hasn't made that much of a difference up here in Scotland. I guess they just decided to convert a general consensus into a law/restriction. Then again, this is the same government who have managed to put a price on healing the planet!!!

Also, everything these days is trying to tell us what's good and what's bad for us as though we didn't already know.

Answer 8

I think it is both. Lets face it, smoking is bad for us. We all know even those of you who do smoke. Second hand smoke is even worse. So yes it could help save our lives.

On the other hand i think anyone who doesn't think that we are being controlled is naive. Cause we are. Caught on camera at least 300 times a day? Is it jus me or is that scary?

Answer 9

You will become accustomed to not smoking in public quickly, trust me. After a while it even seems rather barbaric to even think about smoking in a public place. Also, it makes it much easier to quit when you decide it's time as you no longer have to be surrounded by smokers.

Answer 10

I don't see why we cant have smoking pubs and non smoking pubs. ( we already have quite a few non smoking ones) Then if the non smokers don't want to breathe other peoples smoke they can go to these. I don't know why they don't do so already, instead of moaning about breathing in other peoples smoke, If you don't like it why do you choose to go to the smoking ones? I don't know how its going to work in night clubs and bars that you pay to get in, how will they keep track of who has already been in and paid, when there are people coming in and out all the time to have a ciggie?


PS. I am a non smoker.