Do you think the smoking ban is unfair?

Question

I truly feel that it is a discrimination against smokers. Surely if signs state that smoking takes place on the premises then non-smokers have the choice whether to enter the premises or not, just as smokers have the choice whether to enter non-smoking premises. I realise that in work places where there's both smokers and non-smokers that it shouldn't be allowed but surely in public places i.e. pubs and clubs this should be allowed. And yes i do know that bar workers have rights too but surely they're aware that smoking takes place in them places so again if they don't like smoking then don't work in a pub or club. Also don't prison officers count then cos as i believe it there's not going to be a ban on smoking in prisons and what about the non-smoking prisoners? It seems to me that the ban is very contradictory.
What do others think?

Answer 1

If smoking wasn't deadly, I would agree with you. SInce it is deadly I encourage smoking bans.

Answer 2

No I don't think it is unfair. It has been in Scotland since last march and in Wales and Northern Ireland this year. The majority have accepted, true with some moans, but then they agree that the atmosphere in pubs is a lot better. Less headaches, coughs etc.
Why should the people in England think they should be exempt from the smoking ban.
Maybe bar workers don't have the luxury of having any choice where they can work. Bars also have smokers and non smokers. Do you suggest then that a non smoker should have to put up with the smoker blowing smoke all over them. Is it a question of choice? Then what about the choice for the non-smoker or is that not an option
Prisons are seen as a place of residence for the prisoners so smoking cannot be banned there.

Answer 3

Our town just enacted the public smoking ban. We were told that the ban would actually help businesses aimed at the over 21 crowd-ie: bars, taverns. because the non-smokers (the majority) would frequent places more after the ban because they wouldnt have to deal with second hand smoke. Well, 6 months later, the bar I managed is closed, along with about 27 others. Numerous people out of work. I totally agree with the ban in places where children may be exposed. They have no say so over where the parents bring them. But as far as bars, it is an adult place and only adults are allowed. I do know that every single employee of mine was a smoker, and so was 90% of our business patrons. Both sides make a good arguement, but smokers should have rights just as non-smokers. If we can go outside to smoke, then cant non-smokers choose to go somehwree else? I think the only fair solution would have been to designate the business as either smoking or non: let the business owner decide. Then they take the risk of running off the smokers or the non-smokers. I know of 28 people who would have choosen to make their businesses smoking! and I wouldnt have had to change careers! Unfortunately, the smoking ban is growing more and more support and it will be non smoking everywhere except your home. We will just have to adjust!

Answer 4

Legal or illegal makes no difference it is still a disgusting habit,
I would ask smokers to write down on a piece of paper all the positive and good things about smoking (if there are any ) and then write down all the bad things (of which there must be hundreds) and compare the lists.
I am all in favour of the ban it should have been in place years ago when they first discovered the link between lung cancer , heart disease and passive smoking. If smokers are committed to long term suicide that is their business but they should not involve others in doing it. When a similar ban was put in place in California back in the 90s all these arguments about social injustice were voiced by the smokers but now it is just accepted as normal as it will be here in a couple of years.

Answer 5

Yes and no. One of the replies stated that all it takes is going outside for 2 minutes if you want a smoke. Well, this is not the case anymore because smokers are not allowed to stand just outside but have to move right away from the whole area of the building. I understand smoking being banned from enclosed areas or where lots of people gather at close proximity to each other. However, where is this going to lead? Smokers are now being told they will not be able to smoke in their vehicle if there is another person in it. Well, what if the other person smokes and/or doesn't mind? Apparently they will get on the spot penalty fines. Also, if a builder/surveyor comes to your house you are not allowed to smoke half an hour before they arrive as your house is deemed to be their place of work! Again, what if they smoke and/or don't mind? The smoking ban is good in principle for the health of the nation, but choices are being taken away from us. Shouldn't pubs have been given a choice as to whether or not they became smoke-free? Also, what will happen to rural pubs where the majority of their locals smoke?

Answer 6

I think there are aspects of the ban that are over the top. I think 20% of pubs should be able to apply for a smoking license rather than a total ban. I don't object to working environments being smoke free but I think there's a lot of people jumping on the bandwagon...lots of companies won't let you smoke anywhere near the premises which will surely mean less work being achieved and even risk of accidents by people having to cross the road several more times a day for a quick ciggy. Some open air train platforms are introducing a ban...why? It's not an enclosed space.

Personally I don't think it's bad to encourage people to give up but I think a total ban and the way in which certain work places are going about it is way OTT, impractical and discriminatory.

What I'm more worried about is the way this country is becoming more and more a nanny state. You've seen the adverts that tell you..."Eat no more than 6mg of salt a day". What next?..."No more than one bar of chocolate a week", or what about a ban on running cos it's bad for your knees.

Besides anything else we're breathing in far more pollution from all the exhaust fumes we pump out everyday from our cars and no one seems to be doing much about that. Reducing our carbon emmissions and being less wasteful with the resources we have will have a far greater impact on the future of our country and the rest of the world.

Rant over!

Answer 7

As a now non-smoker, an ex-smoker and an asthmatic (very stupid, I know already), I can see both sides of the arguments.

As the smoker, I can understand how smokers don't want to have their habit limited to their own abode - the whole point of going to the pub is to have a few drinks and, for smokers, a few cigars/cigarettes. People know that, so those who want to avoid smoke don't go.

However, as the asthmatic, I can also see why people don't want smokers smoking - other peoples' smoke does make me have attacks. I'd like to take this time to point out I only ever smoked away from people, so no passive smoking from me.

When I smoked, I was the cause of any future problems and it was just my fault; if someone who never touched a cigar/cigarette got lung cancer through passive smoking, then its unfair because they didn't ask for it. I didn't do it for long enough to cause a significantly higher risk to myself (about 3 months, really, smoking about 2 a week in that time, so maybe 24 in total?), so I can see this point from being a now non-smoker.

No, I don't think its unfair - its for the good of more of the nation.

Answer 8

I personally am very pleased about the ban, I am an ex smoker and gave up last May and the only time I feel like I want a cigarette is when I am out in pubs or bars drinking. Now I'm not going to have that problem. At the end of the day smoking kills - this has been proven a million times and this ban is going to be protecting all the non smokers from passive smoking and will also hopefully encourage many smokers to give up as well. And for all you smokers out there - it is simple, if you want a cigarette then just go outside! Really - it isn't that much of a big deal. I agree with you that it is very contradictory that prisons are not going to be made non smoking, maybe this is because the prisoners don't have the option to go outside like the rest of us do (although obviously I don't agree with that). From a non-smokers perspective though, try and take this opportunity to give up the fags, they will kill you eventually and meanwhile you will stink, look a lot older than your years and be spending loads of money in something that literally goes up in smoke!

Answer 9

The smoking ban is NOT unfair. I live in Scotland where this ban has been in force for quite some time now and what a pleasure it is to go into a bar or restaurant and enjoy the nice clean atmosphere not come out with clothes stinking of smoke.
Why are work places any different from public places?????
This should have been in force years ago!

Answer 10

yes the ban is a sham if the goverment really wanted to stop people smoking they would just ban it alltogether but they wont because of all the money they make from it. guess i could agree about the eating places and some work places but pubs and clubs , what a joke!!!! atleast the tobbacco police can pickle their livers,kidneys and brain cells while eating burger and chips to clogg their arteries in a smoke free zone now.wot happened to human rights. why is it that smoking is targeted you only have to watch booze britain on bravo or go into town on a weekend night dodging fists and vomit to see which drug is the real problem, think sometimes people forget that alcohol is a very harmful drug and would no way be legal if it was discovered tommorow and bet these antismokers drink and not all will be in moderation. try asking the police and medics who work at the weekend which gives them the most trouble - alcohol or tobacco ? i might be wrong but feel better for getting my anger out because even the anti smokers wont be happy when their favourite little country pub closes due to lack of buisness! and the mature retired people who probably fought in ww2 and look forward to a smoke with their pint wont be thanking them either. is it true that the house of commens will have a smoking room inside? if not fair enough if so, what a contradiction.... from a tax paying citizen

Answer 11

I have read most of the answers so far and the majority seem to be in favour of the smoking ban even as far as not having separate rooms for smokers.My reply and in particular to Wayne G who said people walk past his car in a parking lot and the cigarette smoke wafts into his car and he would like to punch them.Do you none smokers also wish to give up your cars as well because they give off far more deadly emissions than a smoker and you cannot get away from those fumes even in your own home.We hear from certain groups every day banging on about banning something that affects their well being but when it is brought up re car fumes everyone ducks for cover.And before anyone tells me a car is now a neccessity I would point out that where I live and I suspect where a lot more people live I see mothers and fathers going to school to pick up their children in their cars and as I am local I know that 99% of them only live no more than a 5 minute walk from the school and again a big majority are the ones who are banging on about the smoking ban yet they are pulling up in a 7 litre engined 4*4 AND not just the odd one there are quite a few as these massive cars seem to be the latest status symbol.A LITTLE LIKE SMOKING WAS MANY YEARS AGO when the advertisers made it seem COOL to smoke.I would also point out that the majority of the tax paid by smokers goes to NHS funding so if the anti smoking lobby get their way and cigarette sales are banned completely although I am a smoker I will be laughing all the way to the bank because it will be your tax burden that will increase and IF I live long enough my tax burden will come down or the NHS will collapse and you will have to PAY PRIVATELY FOR TREATMENT.By the way I am 60 now and have smoked since 14 and could still out run most of the lard arses out there running about in 4*4s who can't WALK more than 200 metres in some cases.