Is It Right That Smokers Are Treated Like Second Class Citizens?

Question

Now that the winter months are dragging in (excuse the pun) I'm just wondering if you think it is right that people enjoying a legal past-time are forced to stand out in the cold and rain? And yes, I am talking about smokers, Labour's modern day pariahs.

Never mind the fact that it is still a legal activity, and that the myth of passive smoking has never been proved. Never mind the fact that without smokers the tax burden on the NHS would increase taxes for everyone in this country.

Is it right that smokers are treated in this way?

Actually, I don't smoke in front of my child. Never have, never will. I know it's a bad habit but I don't need a lecture on it. Are you sure you're a smoker?

Answer 1

Ever since I was born 75 years ago pubs and clubs have by tradition been a place where people could go for a pint and a smoke. Probably 2 out of 3 were smokers in these places. If non smokers did not like breathing in the smokey air they could always sit outside , but few did because they enjoyed the company of smokers and non smokers.Now its the smokers who have been made to sit outside breathing all the polluted air fumes from the cars belonging to the non smokers inside in the warm . What a crazy world we live in

Answer 2

Wow, where to start! So many smokers decide to light up where their smoke is forced upon others. If they want to smoke that's fine but they should do it where their stench will not pollute other people's air. Smokers that smoke in their cars often throw their cigarette butts out the window. If they want to smoke they should be mature enough and responsible enough to properly dispose of their butts. Smokers that have children will typically smoke around their kids. They would not give their kids poison to drink so why are they willing to give their kids poison to breath? Smokers are usually not charged higher health insurance premiums to compensate for their higher health care costs so non-smokers are subsidising their health care. Smokers should have to pay the higher health care costs that comes with their habit. Smokers whine about being taxed for their addiction. The extra cost to society due to cigarettes is more than the tax they pay. The tax on cigarettes should be MUCH higher. Why are smokers treated like second class citizens? Because they deserve it!

Answer 3

Yes, they are treated like second class citizens and it is completely wrong. It's discrimination. I'm an ex-smoker stopped 2 years now and hate the smell of smoke. I know what is said about passive smoking though I'm not sure I agree with it. However, I think smokers are treated like lepers in this country. Many smokers suffer with respiratory problems, one of the reasons I eventually managed to give up. Standing outside in winter in rain, sleet or snow is not going to do their health any good and is going to aggravate any respiratory problems they might have. I think more smokers will have time off work due to ill health this year than in previous years.

Answer 4

I know of someone who was diagnosed with lung cancer they did not smoke or come from a smoking family they were given 6 to 9 months that was 13 years ago they are still with us and in remission, the consultant said that if they were 20 years or more older and smoked they would have been put down as a statistic, I don't believe that smoking causes lung cancer but it will give you very bad chest problems that could kill. I smoke and I've always respected non smokers, I've smoked more than I usually do tonight as I found out my friends son has passed away so I will be coughing tomorrow only at this moment I really don't care.

Answer 5

The myth of passive smoking has never been proven ?, No but the facts have. Myths by their very nature cannot be proven that is why they are called myths. The loss of tax revenue will be offset ( as in Ireland ) by the substantial reduction in admissions to hospitals for chest and lung related problems. All smokers in Ireland are not forced to stand out in the cold and rain, If your Publican, Restaurateur , etc Really value your custom they will supply you with appropriate outdoor sheltered, heated, and comfortable facilities, if not, maybe they are not deserving of your custom, you have the choice, vote with your feet, give your custom to those who appreciate you the others will soon come around or go out of business.

Answer 6

As a former smoker, I can sympathize with you. However, having been off cigarettes for four years I can see how nice it is not to smell like them anymore. My house, my furniture, my car smelled like an ashtray when I quit. I have new furniture now and I don't hang around smokers, just happened that way. But I don't like to see the way smokers are treated because, as you say, it is still legal in a lot of places. And it usually doesn't bother me if I walk by smokers, so I don't know why everyone gets so excited about people standing outside and smoking.

Answer 7

i smoke i love it
since the smoking ban in public places has come into force its even better. it don't bother me. i can stand outside no worries. winter well so what i can afford a warm coat if its raining I'll puff away under an umbrella. if I'm chilly i can buy a warming cup of coffee. i see no down side to the ban.
us smokers can still enjoy our habit and non smokers can hang out in pubs etc with out worrying about their health.
seems fair to me

Answer 8

The government are doing a great job of making us smokers feel like second-class/dirty addicted citizens. But its MY choice to smoke and they'll have to take 'em off the shelves to stop me. However I dont feel I have the right to inflict my habit on other folk in an enclosed environment.
When I wound up in hospital with broken bones, unable to move, the other patients were ALLOWED to smoke because they hadn't the mobility to go outside. Because of this it exasperated my chest infection and I was in agony. (I had given up smoking at the time.) This was many years ago and quite right that we are banned in public places. (Those poor asthmatics!) As a former non-smoker I know how inconsiderate it can be.

Answer 9

Yes. I agree with your point totally. I guess the non smokers are right in the fact that we chose to pick up the habit though. Personally I'm waiting to see future statistics on cancer sufferers as I'm sure the amount of patients won't decrease by much. Everyone seems to think that cancer is caused by smoking and only smoking yet bowel and breast cancer are caused by other factors. Lung cancer is caused by more than just smoking and the daily amount of pollution that we inhale is a factor to this. One of my friends died age 23 from cancer and her and her family didn't smoke a day in their lives. I think given time the non smokers will still be whinging about cancer due to the fact they are still dying from it even though they aren't inhaling any of our smoke. If you want to know about a subject you have to research it a little more than just reading the latest newpaper report, as they are a little biased to what the government wants you to hear. People ban smoking in fear of their children getting cancer yet choose to feed them junk food almost everyday. If you don't want your child to get cancer it seems pretty dumb to me seeing as you increase the chance of bowel cancer by doing this.

Answer 10

Alcohol causes more social problems than cigarettes.

Binge drinking
Fighting outside clubs and bars
Domestic violence
Violence against police and ambulance staff
Spiked drinks
Accidents
Drunk Driving

When was the last time somebody beat their wife up after they'd had a cigarette I wonder?

It causes lots of health problems, but then again, so does alcohol........

Alcohol is socially acceptable.
Smoking is not.

Which one leads to the problems listed above?

IMO smokers should go outside for the cigs and avoid affecting others with second hand smoke, but the government should get their priorities right and start to address the problems that alcohol causes.........and, yes, I do smoke...outside - and I enjoy the odd drink.