Why do smokers keep banging on about their rights!?

Question

What about the rights of a non smoker to enjoy clean air in pubs and enclosed spaces! Let's face it, I can stand next to a drinking alcholic without my health being affected at all, but if I stand next to someone who is chain smoking I am forced to breath in their harmful smoke!

The ban is not aimed at taking enjoyment away from smokers, it's aimed at protecting the lives of the people who have to breath in their smoke.

and please......Don't say that non smokers have the right to stay out of pubs. They have a right to go out and enjoy ourselves too!!!

Well, now in the UK smokers have a right to stay at home and smoke themselves to death. They don't have to go out and fill our public places with smoke anymore! I can't wait for July 1st!!

If you are in a pub full of smoke, it doesn't matter whether you stand next to a somoker or not. You are still breathing it in.

As for the smell of fresh fish and perfume, they don't cause cancer and kill thousands every year. These are ridiculous comparisons. I don't like the smell of fish either, but as it doesn't harm me I'm not bothered about it!

Alchol only harms the person drinking it, and not everyone else standing in the room where they are drinking.

Oh, and there is a law against drinking and driving for the same reason they are bringing in the smoking ban. Both kill innocent bystanders!

Infinity C: I actually don't object to smoking rooms at airports as long as the smoke can't escape into the non smoking areas. I am not against people smoking and killing themselves, I just object to them doing it anywhere where they can harm others.

Wayne - Smokers have not been banned from going to enclosed spaces! They are just not allowed to kill people while they are there any more. They still have the right to go to any public place and enjoy themselves. They just can't ruin the enjoyment of others.

Wayne - Smokers have not been banned from going to enclosed spaces! They are just not allowed to kill people while they are there any more. They still have the right to go to any public place and enjoy themselves. They just can't ruin the enjoyment of others.

Mrg07 - It's good to know that there are responsible smokers out there! Good for you!

Fred M: I think you've missed the point! When you drink alcohol you are not forcing the person next to you to drink it, nor are you shortening their life.
You might not like to be in the same place as people with BO, bad breath, strong perfume etc., but none of these things are damaging your health.

Oh and some of you mention drink driving....Well that is illegal as it kills people, just the same as smoking in public places will become illegal because it kills people.

Answer 1

This has provoked a lot of reaction from smokers, typical really since they have had their own selfish way for decades.

You tell us non smokers to stop whining, go somewhere that smokers aren't etc.

Yet there IS NO SUCH PLACE!!!!! Even walking down the bloody street I occasionally get a selfish bloody smoker walking past me blowing smoke in my path!

I am sick and tired of the selfishness of smokers, if they light up they think it is their right, their choich to smoke, yet they are also inflicting that disgusting habit on those of us who do not smoke.

Now it is our turn to inflict non smoking on you. If you don't like it, tough. That's the choich you have given non smokers for decades, lets see how you like it.

Also as a nurse, the majority of illnesses I see people come in with (bar physical accidents) are lifestyle related. If smoking was banned completely, it would pretty much wip out things like COPD (and yes for that person who mentioned pollution, that does have an effect on health, but it is a miniscule percentage (less than 2 or 3%) compared to smoking).

So if you do not like this smoking ban, tough. It is about time those of us who choose NOT to smoke don't have it forced on us.

Answer 2

All right! I'll put in my two cents worth. I'm from British Columbia, we have the worst non-smoking activists in the country. We've had the smoking ban in public places here for years and it's not as bad as some people may think. Some business did lose customers because of the ban and pub owners have b*tched about it, but they are still in business.
I'm a smoker. When I go to the restaurant, I don't mind not being able to smoke, at home I usually smoke outside. I don't go to bars often because I can't stand drunks. So there you have it.
The people that b*itch and complain (on either side of the issue) will eventually shut up and accept the ban. It will take a while to get used to it, but you know we did get used to it.
Oh! I really think they should ban people with strong body odour from entering a crowded pub, it offends my olfactory sense. What do you think?

Answer 3

Most smokers are understanding of the fact that non-smokers hate the smell. Most smokers accept the fact that they should't inflict their habits on non-smokers. What we are banging about the most is the fact that we now have absolutely no rights to smoke in any enclosed space. Even non-smoker friends of mine agree with the fact that a totel ban was very stupid. The government should have made the law in a way that allows some places where smokers can go. Take for example the smoking lounge at the airport: why would it hurt you, the non-smoker, if I went into the smokers' lounge and had a ciggie? You wouldn't dream of entering the lounge so you are not exactly breathing my smoke? Why is that such a problem? So we now have absolutely no right, whilst you have ALL the rights. In a democracy it is not right.

Answer 4

The owner of the business should be the one to decide whether or not to allow smoking. If smoking is allowed then the non smokers just dont use the business. We had a smoking ban here and the local bars all cut their hours and laid off employees. The nonsmokers who said we will come and make up the difference never did show up. A friend of mine who owns a bar said her revenue dropped 40% during the ban. I have no problem with a ban in restaurants and other public places but bars and private clubs should be allowed to make that decision themselves.

Answer 5

The thing is that restaurants, pubs and most "public" places are owned by individuals. What if the govornment told you to paint your house red? And how many people feel comfortable standing too close to clown or a mime, it might be antisocial but there is no reason to ban them from a public place. Finally, if you dont get addicted from second hand smoke are you really breathing enough to get the health effects, I mean there is no reason to trust the research (which I'm assuming to be against smoke), in the fifties scientist choked a monkey to death with a years supply of marijuana in 2 minutes so they could say it was lethal.

Answer 6

It is not really about having smoke free areas, it is all about rights period. What will be next? perfume/cologn, body odor, and bad breathe offends people, I have seen businesses refuse to serve if perfume/cologn is on you, where will it stop?
Alcohol is more deadly than second hand smoke why not put a ban on it like smoking? Or better yet let the government tell us when and where we can do anything like using the restroom or making love. No I am not a smoker, just love my right to be free what is left of them.

Answer 7

I live in Wales where the smoking ban is aloready in place and its great to go out and not come home smelling of smoke on the weekend.

Smokers say non smokers should go outside but some non smokers have been working in a smoking workplace.

Its much more convenient for smokers to go outside for a 2 minute *** than for non smokers to stand out there all night because theres always going to be somebody inside lit up.

The ban has encouraged many people to quit and had a good impact on thier health.

Answer 8

Maybe because once the government has outlawed smoking it will turn its attention to banning a few other things. I'm not a smoker, but I am getting a bit concerned at the way our rights are being taken away one by one "for our own good"

Answer 9

You have the right to not go to pubs that allow smoking. So you had the choice to go out and enjoy yourself.

Now we do not we cant go to any pub anywhere and enjoy ourselves.

There where plenty of bars and clubs that didnt allow smoking and if there wasn't then what does that tell you. Removing peoples choices is taking away our liberty.

You have no understanding of the risk or consequence of secondary smoke if you did you would realise it is a completely pointless to base your arguments on it.

Many people who smoke have no choice they are addicted.... not illegally perfectly legally. They need to smoke they are chemically dependant on it.

So lets look at the before and after.

Both smokers and nonsmokers had a choice to go to a a variety of places some that catered for smoking some that didnt. Now smokers have no choice at all... so whats good about that?

Oh sorry now you have complete choice well thats nice for you isnt it.

Answer 10

I'm a smoker, but hate the no smoking laws. Smoking is not illegal. My theory is that there should be non smoking and smoking establishments. Then people could make their own choices of which place to go. If it says Non-Smoking - great! And if there are places for smokers to go, they'd be happy too. Still can't figure out why it's a political issue when the government rakes in billions of dollars in taxes on cigarettes.

Answer 11

it's the non-smokers banging on about their rights that has caused the ban. As a smoker I have never moaned about not being able to smoke in certain places. I fully respect the fact it smell and harms others.

I want a perfume ban in all offices as it really agrivates my asthma, smoking however doesn't.

You are slowly winning the battle so stop maoning about us moaning

"and please......Don't say that non smokers have the right to stay out of pubs. They have a right to go out and enjoy ourselves too!!!"

smokers and non smokers have equal rights