smoking ban my rights?

Question

I can understand that a smoker wishes to exercise their rights to smoke and might be opposed to a ban so why can't they understand that i might want to I exercise my right to breathe smokless air. If they are smoking next to me I have no choice in the matter!

Answer 1

well said,im a smoker,but I respect other people dont like it,so I just go elsewhere to light up,it doesnt cost anything to be nice towards others.

Answer 2

I am a smoker and I say the ban is morally wrong and it is an abuse of rights for the following reasons.

A pub landord should be allowed to decide if smoking is allowed in his establishment and it is his rights that are being abused by the ban because if he wants to allow smoking that is his business and no one elses.

No one puts a gun to your head and forces you to go to a smoking pub, you have a choice.

If there was no ban then no one would put a gun to my head and force me to go to a non smoking pub.

If prior to the ban non smokers had used their intelligence and excercised their rights and refused to go to smoking pubs, then we would now probably be in a situation where some landlords would go non smoking and other landlords would allow smoking. Other landlords would no doubt have found creative ways to accomadate both smokers and non smokers in the same building. This is called democracy, the ban however is a form of oppression and intolerence and I believe that the minor nuisance I make with my smoke is not nearly as bad as intolerence.

I am a heavy smoker and I have been for thirty five years, I would find it very hard to give up. I have been robbed of an absolute fortune in grossly unreasonable and excessive tobaco taxes which go to the the Government and is ultimately enjoyed in some way or another by non smokers and now my social life is effectively ruined forever because I can not enjoy a night out without smoking. In a truly tolerant and fair society both smokers and non smokers would be tolerated and catered for, as it is I am now effectivly a social outcast.

Non smokers believe the ban is right, not because it is right but because of self interest and intolerence. When we all get used to the ban then another social group will be targeted for the next whitch hunt. Smoke free might be valuable to some, but freedom is valuable to all and it is freedom that this ban is destroying.

As I said earlier, you have a choice of whether to enter a smoking establishment, because of the ban I have no choice.

This ban has created yet another social underclass and that in the long run is bad news for everyone in a so called civillised society.

Answer 3

I'm in LA - Hollywood area and we are conjested with smog from traffic ... which btw much more harmful than smoking.

I am a smoker but I understand the health issues for non smokers - I have children who do not know of me smoking. I have never lit up around children, elders, or families. I respect non smoking public places such as libraries, parks, beaches, etc. I know better to step aside and keep it away from others.
I can sure read the No Smoking signs and I will walk away.
I'm hoping to quit and looking for the cure to kick the habbit someday soon :)

Answer 4

Who the H ell invented this term "second hand smoke" ? That is all of a sudden being jammed down smokers throats. It is a media tool for the anti-smoking brigade to rally with.
where's the proof it is a genuine factor in causing smoking related diseases? there is none. It's all media hype. 'LETS PICK ON THE SMOKERS" Easy target 'cos I don't like the smell of cigarette smoke. I have never smoked in restaurants or cramped crowded places, common courtesy and common sense, but I will not be told that I can't smoke outside in the open air by busybody nanny state bureaucrats.

Answer 5

absolutely. I agree with you. I feel very angry when i am at a public place and someone smokes in my face or i keep getting whiffs of cigarette. I happen to know first hand what cigarette can do to me and so i feel like i am one step closer to cancer everytime i smell it. The bad news is that some people are more susceptible to cancer than others. A smoker may be less susceptible and a poor second hand smoking victim may be more susceptible to nicotine carcinogenic effects and therefore develop cancer from it while the smoker goes scot free.
That is why i get angry

On the other hand, i do feel bad for smokers when they have to go out in the cold and smoke but...it's me or them and i choose me

Answer 6

I'm a non smoker, never smoked in my life. I have no objection in people smoking, as yes, it is their right to smoke, but i made the decision not to smoke, and that is my right....

I honestly think that this smoking ban can only be a good thing for health reasons, let alone financially. My mate has stopped smoking this week, and we worked out that per year, she is saving nearly £2,000 per year.

She has literally been smoking a holiday away every year!

So think about that before you light up! ;o)

Answer 7

i understand what you are saying. and as a smoker i have only one arguement against a smoking ban.

businesses, should have the right to decide if they will allow smoking or not. and should have the right to make smoking areas that are seperated from non smoking areas.

there are many businesses that by dafault non smokers should aviod and would ot wish to go to in the first place.

the first being tobacco shops. if i own a cigar, pipe, or fine tobacco shop. why should my patrons not be allowed to smoke inside? many such shops provide very comfortable (and expensive) seating as a lounge for people to enjoy their tobacco. why should these places be punished because of a non smokers ideas?

the second would be Hookah and Shisha bars where people go to smoke Massal tobacco from the eastern waterpipes.
these places exist primarily as a smoking establishment.
if you do not smoke, why would you go there?

the third would be Bars and Clubs. where many people go just to smoke as a place to meet friends and be out of the cold.

i agree some bars should be smoke free, but that should be up to the business owner.

employees at these places are not forced to work in these enviroments. and most of them are smokers themselves.

i do not think that places that are of family orientation should allow smoking. but the businesses mentioned are places for adults and should be prone to adult decisions by the business owner and the patrons.

believe me if the majority of people that frequent a business do not smoke the owner will cater to them.

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as far as the right to breathe clean air arguements.

ummm big business and carbon belching cars took that away from us a LONG time ago.

Answer 8

We should all respect each others rights. Smokers should have a place to smoke and non-smokers should be able to live in a smoke-free environment.
It should have happened ages ago. I'm sure we'll all adjust given time. Smokers seem to be in a minority anyway, but I suppose it depends where we are at the time.

Answer 9

I don't care if I can't smoke in public places, but what I don't get is why people are uppety about second hand smoke while I'm breathing in the exhaust fumes from their cars. Where's MY right to inhale the smoke of my choice, eh?

Answer 10

Yes, I understand what you mean. I do think smokers should be allowed to smoke. If it's a restaurant, then outdoors in designated areas.

Answer 11

I don't care if someone wants to smoke and risk a plethora of diseases, but what gives them the right to subject non smokers to those same diseases? Do they like it if I have the flu and decide not to cover my mouth when I cough or sneeze? And the flu won't kill ya like heart disease or cancer will!
You could open a "smoking only" restaurant if you wanted, but it would not succeed. The majority of the population are non smokers and a very high percentage of smokers do not particularly like smoking during meals.