What do people think of the new smoking ban?

Question

From today it will be illegal to smoke in pubs, restaraunts etc in the north of Ireland. These places will be fined heavily if they allow smoking to take place and I think individuals who smoke in these places will be fined too. Do people think this is a good idea or is it a case of the state interfering too much in peoples lives?

Answer 1

I live in the United States and we have been dealing with these bans for years. They are wrong on several levels. The first is that it imposes rules on private business which should be decided by market forces, not governments. We are talking about a legal activity, not a criminal act. I do believe that governments should not allow smoking in public buildings. It has gone so far in some places in California that you cannot smoke on public beaches. Check this, you cannot smoke outside. It always amuses when a non - smoker says I shouldn't have to be exposed. The answer to that is do not frequent that establishment, but they do not see it that way. Most non smokers view it as only their rights matter and if you are inconveniencing them you must be legislated. These bans are going to continue to grow as the genie is well out of the bottle, but I do believe that any municipality which bans smoking should not take any taxes from the sale of cigarettes. If they are really serious about their convictions, let them put their money where their mouths are.

Answer 2

There's kind of a mixed take on that one.

I'm a smoker but I can see the point that non-smokers make.

From a health standpoint, it's probably a good idea. A little inconvenient for a guy like me though.

I figure that we should be able to control that one ourselves. Have smoking pubs and non-smoking pubs. Whatever the owner wants. The only problem with that is who's going to enforce the pub's policy?
....Maybe we need the government to back it up.

Answer 3

As a smoker, i develop into very bypass to awaken this morning and pay interest to that smoking in my vehicle - which I do usually - is now banned. No observe, no caution. My vehicle isn't a employer vehicle, I not often have passengers (and if I do, i do not smoke) and that i do not remove my cigarettes out of my window. I really were smoking longer than I really were driving, and that i will really discover and gentle a cigarette without taking my eyes off the line - i hit upon it extra distracting attempting to regulate the radio station. And in 15 years of smoking even as driving, I really have under no circumstances once dropped a cigarette in my lap. After slightly analyze, besides the indisputable fact that, i stumbled on that smoking isn't banned, as such - it really is merely hostile to suggestion. if you're driving dangerously, committing a driving offence or thinking an twist of destiny even as smoking, then you fairly'll face a extra severe penalty. besides the indisputable fact that, smoking on your vehicle is considered inadvisable really than unlawful and a contributary element in case you do something incorrect. So, I shall nonetheless be luckily lights up even as driving - that is about the only position i will smoke without pissing someone off those days.

Answer 4

Too bad people like Miz miss the larger picture about the smoking ban:

Telling PRIVATE business owners how to run their business. If one chooses to allow smoking in his pub, so be it. You, as a non-smoker, have the chance to take your business elsewhere, where smoking may not be allowed. You, as a non-smoker, also have the choice to work there or not. The only choice removed is that of the business owners, which is wrong.

Answer 5

I don't like this big brother government its it has shown itself to be the most interfering and intolerant bunch of commies in recent British history. Smoking is a filthy habit but i believe there could of been a compromise were pubs and clubs had to prove there can provide a smoking room which is ventilated or it had to be non smoking .

Answer 6

I'm not from Ireland, but some of the same thing is happening here in the States. In my mind, it should be up to the bar owner. If his patrons are mostly non smokers, make it smoke free. But if most of his patrons smoke, install a good ventilation system and let them smoke. It should not be a government decision, but a business decision.

Answer 7

Well being that I havent had a ciggarette in about 2 days and have been living with a headache for that time I will say just a few things. I have been wild as hell for these last few days. I beat up an 11 year old boy, threw a brick through someones windshield, and set someones motorcycle on fire. It sounds to me like Ireland hasn't had enough of the carbombings and just want to start it back up.

Answer 8

It's like that in the states, too. I realize 2nd hand smoke can hurt non-smokers, but it's still discrimination. I think so anyway. And Pubs? Smoking and drinking go hand in hand. Seems to me in places like that, business will go down some, because people can always go to a liquor store, but the booze and have the party at their house and have just as much fun. So yeah....too much interference. Next they will tell us we can't smoke in our homes or cars.

Answer 9

I agree with the smoking ban. I have been following it on BBC news. I noted with interest that a lot of pubs and bars will be opening beer gardens and terraces to accommodate their clients. The same accommodations were made in Montréal when smoking was outlawed there.

Answer 10

We have the same proposal coming up for our city council to vote on here in Michigan. I wrote to the editor of the paper saying:

I know what we can do about the smoking ban--we support it 100 percent. Then, we all support a city-wide dress code...then, we all support burning all the books at the library and censoring the newspapers.....if anybody disagrees with this, we can all support marking their clothes with a symbol of a burning cigarette...and then---!!!! if they STILL don't buckle under, we ship them all off to the east for a new, nice place to live.

They didn't print it....