What's your opinion on the smoking ban?

Question

Here in Scotland it's coming up to the 1st anniversary of the ban
In England I think it comes into force in May
Is it better for everyone's health or an infringment of human rights?

I don't smoke so it obviously suits me - it's nice when you go for a night out and don't smell like an old ashtray when you get home!! Although when you're in the company of smokers they seem to spend half the night outside!!

I read in the local paper the other week that many non-smokers are joining the smokers outside and there is now a term for people who go outside to smoke and flirt at the same time - Smirters!!

Answer 1

It's about time !!!!

I've stopped going to pubs because of smokers. There is nothing worse than having to breath in second hand smoke & ending up smelling of stale smoke. If they want to slowly kill themselves fine, but don't take me along with them.

Answer 2

It fab!
I gave up smoking last year the minute i found out i was pregnant with my son and i was living in edinburgh at the time.

Because of this i had far fewer urges than what i would have had it been legal to smoke in public places and to this day still havent restarted my habit.
It also meant that i could go meet friends for coffee without worry that smokers were blowing all those nasty chemicals over my gorgeous boy and and making him smell so awful.
Im now living in England and i cant wait till the ban takes place here.
I think it will encourage people to give up or cut down which is fabulous!
Surely it is an infringement on the human rights of the non smokers to make them breath in the dirty poison smoke of the smokers and to make them walk round smelling like a nasty ashtray.
Smokers were always gonna stamp their feet and sulk over the decision to ban smoking but if it makes people have a better quality of life how can it be a bad thing!

Answer 3

The ban is in force in Southern Ireland. Our local have a shelter outside the pub for the smokers and it's quite good fun out there. When it's cold everyone sits closer (cosy). The bar people (who are non smokers anyway) no longer have to clean the ashtrays and smell that awful stink. (I'm a smoker but I know it stinks sometimes).

I do believe it has helped people cut down. I don't believe the ban is a bad thing.

Answer 4

My state here in the US just enacted a smoking ban (approved by voters in Nov 2006), and it's been wonderful to go out to a bar and not come home reeking of smoke. You're still able to smoke outside, no closer than (if memory serves) ten feet from the entrance to a public building. Even my smoker friends voted for the ban, as they found it an incentive to quit, and they were also concerned for the health of the bartenders stuck in those conditions. Sure, they could get a job somewhere else, but the tip money that can be made on a busy weekend night is hard to pass up when your economy is in the crapper.
We were lucky; the state government put this up to a vote instead of enforcing it outright. Some consider this a human rights violation, but the majority spoke and asked for clean air in public buildings.

Answer 5

Before the ban, non-smokers had their own pubs and bars.
But this luxury does not extend to smokers. Why not 'smokers only' pubs?
And why pick on clubs, where the members set their own rules?
It's the Nanny State thinking we cannot work things out for ourselves.
Some smokers will stop going down the pub, or only go down for a short stay. So the atmosphere of the pub will change (..yeah, I see the pun there..).
I have been a smoker and a non-smoker. I wish this government would leave me alone and realise I can make my own mind up.

Answer 6

I'm an ex smoker who gave up after more than 20 years. I believe the smoking ban is a great step forward. I am now able to go to a restaurant or pub and enjoy a meal and drink without having to have my clothes cleaned to get rid of the smell of cigarette smoke and having to wash my hair. The human rights thing is a lot of tosh!!! What about my rights not to have to inhale smoke which I don't want. In smokey pubs the people who work there as well as customers are enjoying the smoke free atmosphere. If the ban helps people to give up smoking then I think that's great. Tobacco is addictive. It's a drug and I know I was addicted to it. It will be interesting to see what happens when we have a really bad winter. How many smokers will we see outside pubs??? I think there will be less.

Answer 7

Hi there. I'm a smoker myself, but I think the ban is a good thing for a number of reasons.

I always smoke too much when I go to the pub. This will help me cut down. I've been to Ireland a couple of times and always smoke less. When I'm having a good conversation, I don't even notice I'm not smoking, whereas in my local at home, I have my cigs in front of me and light up constantly.

It's also good for non smokers and pregnant women - my pregnant friend wouldn't come to the pub because she was worried about inhaling second-hand smoke. I just hope pubs don't get over-run with kids and babies! It's acceptable to take your child into a pub in the day, but I hate it at night because it's the wrong place for them!

In terms of my rights as a smoker, as long as I am allowed to smoke somewhere - ie, outside and in my own home, I don't mind.

However, I do think the government are hypocrits. If it's so bad, why not just make it illegal? Because they get too much money from it, that's why!!!

Also, they don't ban other things that are unhealthy, like booze and McDonalds (not that I want them too!).

One thing I do hate is that people now think it's fair game to have a go at smokers. I was smoking outside my work a few days ago when a person came up to me and said 'You should give that up!'
It's not the first time either!

I'd like to say DUH - IT'S AN ADDICTION!! I do wish I had never started but it's a bit late now!

Before non-smokers make these comments, ask yourself if you would go up to a fat person eating a pie and tell them to give it up??!! Or someone in the pub with a pint?

It shouldn't be socially acceptable to have a go at smokers.

Sorry, rant over! But in answer to your original question, I'm glad for the ban.

Answer 8

a ban on smoking is not an infringment on rights, but rather a choice that a smoker makes. If someone smokes around others who do not, then th non smoker suddenly does not have a choice whether to smoke or not. However, making internal spaces smoke free allows both people to be satisfied; the non smokers are not inhaling smoke, and smokers can still smoke, comfort in the knowledge they are not harming others! so in short, i think the smoking ban is a very good idea.
ps, im not a smoker

Answer 9

It has been here for a few years now. Initially it was bad as I am a smoker but you can sit outside restaurant and pubs if you want to smoke. In the pubs now you can smell everything else,stale smell of drink, people passing wind!!!!
It is an opportunity to make money..Go into business selling Ashtrays that you nail onto walls outside restaurants, pubs and public areas. People have made a lot of money from this...
They have also made money from supplying kerbside tables. ....

Answer 10

The ban has been in place in Canada for almost 3 years now, and its great. I'm a smoker, but it has caused me to cut down considerably, as there is nowhere to smoke, other than home, now. And I agree...its nice to come home from somewhere and not stink!

The issues, however, revolve around the commerce of the restaurants and bars. Many smokers stopped going out, as they couldn't smoke while they were having a drink. And smokers make up a large percentage of business for these establishments.

Answer 11

The smoking ban comes into effect here in London in June 07. You're quite right. Smokers do spend a lot of time outside. Offices here in London have had a smoking ban for years, but from June it will be a blanket ban for all public places, bars, restaurants, etc.

I'm hoping that the smoke ban will assist me to give up the dreaded weed. My doctor thinks I'm past redemption. I've managed to confine smoking at home to my kitchen - not a good place to smoke but it's got a door out onto the patio. Starting in April 07, I'm imposing a smoke ban everywhere in my house. My partner and me will just have to go outside or stand in the garage if it's raining. I just hope this will be too much bother so that we smoke less and less and eventually pack it in.