Smoking ban in the UK? do you agree?

Question

i am undecided, as a non-smoker and a health care worker for a cancer charity i can understand the benefits especially for pub workers, however i also understand and respect other arguments relating to freedom of choice. what does anyone else think?

Answer 1

I have seen the effects of smoking both to the smoker and those who suffer the second hand smoke. If one could see someone suffering from emphysema so badly that they can't get out of bed from smoking I think it would change their mind. I lost an aunt from lung cancer from smoking. It took her life within 6 months of being diagnosed. Smoking is a terrible thing. I'm glad many places in America are smoke free.

Answer 2

Some will argue its not a freedom of choice if you have to inhale smoke, where is their freedom of choice. Alot of those wanting the ban have a majority of complaint about the smell of the cigarettes, and very few produce the medical effects it may have on them inhaling the smoke. If you ask me this is a war with the Big Tobacco companies who make alot of money, and the "Special Interest" groups who claim they care by creating these bans. The "Special Interest" groups could care less if you smoke or not, they are making just as much money by their crusade also. We are all being duped. Its no longer an agenda for the public, its these two at war with each other, neither have been honest with the public.

P.S. Awesome question Belle on a very heated topic. Hope you find the best answer. Both smokers and non smokers want rights but its this war between Special interest and the Big Tobacco that has started this war. I also work in the medical field and was very conflicted. I did research, alot of research and it comes down to money between the Big Tobacco and the "Special Interest" groups. I was appalled at my findings. Smokers and non smokers rights are not the issue anymore when it comes to these two groups. Big Tobacco need their money and the "Special Interest" groups who have gone state to state to get the smoking ban on the ballot both make a load of cash. Like I said before, neither could care about the people.

Answer 3

I am a smoker but understand a non-smoker's desire not to have to inhale second hand smoke.

However I do not believe it was necessary to introduce a blanket ban in pubs and clubs. It would have been quite feasible to set a quota of licences in each area whereby say 60% of all licences issued to landlords were non-smoking and 40% smoking. That way those who wanted a smoke free environment would have had no difficulty finding one and those who wanted to have a cigarette with their pints would have still been able to enjoy that freedom.

If one or other licence was over subscribed for, the successful applicants could have been decided by drawing lots.

But at the end of the day we have a government who bans anything they don't like. It started with hunting, now its smoking - what next I wonder.

Brendan

Answer 4

Smokers are being picked on and alienated big time in the uk, they are treated like anti-social lepers. Pollution from car exhausts poses a far greater risk to us all. For example, if you were in a closed room full of smokers for 15 minutes you might not feel great but you would not die. If you were in a closed room for 15 minutes with a car engine running, the exhaust fumes would definitely kill you. Smoking and non-smoking areas should be available, smokers have the right to choice as well. For the record I do not smoke

Answer 5

I share your feelings on this one. I am a non-smoker and prefer to be in a smoke free environment. I also prefer not to be in heavily polluted city centres but don't expect all traffic to be banned just to please me. People should have freedom of choice so long as it is not causing problems for others. That would be better achieved by having smoking areas with effective ventilation so that smokers and non-smokers can use the same facilities.

Answer 6

I'm not a resident of the U.K. but we have gone Thur the same thing here in N.Y. State,USA,which has the same problem,Many people that are non smokers disagree about it being in bars. If a smoking room was set up it should take care of the problem but the law will not move so we waited for awhile and in a bars that has mostly regulars we smoke and the law can kiss are butt and we will vote that govener out this coming year

Answer 7

lf the Government wants people to stop smoking why don't they just declare tobacco as a Class A drug and have done with it.Those who complain about smokers should be aware that most smokers want to give up. Howls of anger against them, as, opposed to other anti social elements, do not help and only serve to make smokers resentful. After all, at the moment they are not doing anything illegal. Also, have people asked themselves who is going to make up the loss of revenue which will result. I hope they are happy for their taxes to rise even more than at preseent.

Answer 8

I do smoke, though am trying to stop. A good chunk of the tax from cigarettes goes to fund the NHS in the UK. so when the bans come into force, which are supposed to prompt people to give up the ciggies, where will the dosh come from to feed the NHS in the future.

However, I don't agree that non-smokers should have to breathe in the stale air and possible harmful properties that cigarette smoke delivers.

Answer 9

I am an ex-smoker and I think there should be smoking pubs and non-smoking pubs,then at least you have a choice and so does the landlord of the pub

Its turning into a nanny state when you arent given a choice..

Answer 10

no. no matter where or what bans like that are,they are wrong. we run the risk of giving up freedoms. if unopposed,what will be banned next?

edit. most smokers i know if asked nicely would put it out or move away from you. it takes the choice from business owners. a seperate area inside should be acceptable to all. i have had my sinuses irritated by someone wearing too much perfume/cologne. would a ban on that be OK?