Wetherspoon pubs to ban smoking

[Steve]

Not strictly .tech-news, but I'm sure many of you enjoy a swift pint over lunch or an unwind in the pub once the days is over. Wetherspoons are banning smoking in all of their puts due to fears that it is putting-off customers.

The firm, which has already pioneered non-smoking areas in its bars and lounges, said that 60 of its pubs will become smoke-free from this May.

It said it wanted to ban smoking two years ahead of government laws.

[The article]

I am a non-smoker, but to be honest, I don't mind visiting a pub where smoking is allowed. I must admit I do not like it when people smoke next to me or near me, but as long as I don't have to endure it for long, that's fine. In the long run I think the smoking ban is a good thing, but it will take time for it to be accepted.

What are your thoughts?

[[GSV]Trig]

I dont really notice smoke until I get home tbh then u can smell it on you, maybe its years being surrounded by smokers n stuff but it doesnt really bother me when I'm out, I'd rather they banned people throwing up and being violent..

Actually if drunk ppl cant smoke are they more likely to be violent?!

[Knoxville]

Yes.

Yes we are.

[Rythmic]

For a smoker, you may be surprised that I'm happy they're doing it. No business should be told "people have to be able to smoke on your premises". (Just don't expect me to visit them - gotta have a tab with me drink)

I also believe that you shouldn't be told the opposite either. With Withaspoons going this way, people can now longer claim they are "forced" to go into pubs with smoke (I never understood who was "forcing" them or why - but perhaps thats just me).

[DR]

I have to say - I love going to the USA - I never smell of ciggies the next day - so clean.

[Honoop]

Im a non-smoker but every other member of my family is a smoker, Ive grown up with it around me all the time and it doesnt bother me if people are smoking near me what so ever. Also I work part time in a pub, which has a smoking section and that doesnt bother me either.
The only time I really notice it is when I get home to my nice smoke free flat and I can smell it on me, or if im in a poorly ventilated pub/club where it makes ur eyes sting!!
Im not really bothered about the smoking ban tbh. I think it will put smokers off of going out for a meal /drink if they then have to go outside the pub to smoke - unless its summer of course.
I do still find this constant battle the government has with the whole smoking issue somewhat amusing. They have to be seen to be health conscious when it comes to smoking but the amount of revenue they earn from the tobacco industry is colossal - they cant be pro, they have to be anti - but without it the economy would be a bigger mess than it is already.

[Lee H]

They have to be seen to be health conscious when it comes to smoking but the amount of revenue they earn from the tobacco industry is colossal - they cant be pro, they have to be anti - but without it the economy would be a bigger mess than it is already.

So true, but hang on a minute why not make the breweries show pictures of damaged livers behind the bar or on pictures on the wall or have BIG silly looking health warnings on the side of pint glasses? The reason is because more people do it and therefore the government don't want to loose all that lovely revenue thats created by the sale of alcoholic drinks.

I foresee that the trade at weatherspoons will probably stay level with the "hardcore" smoking contingency going to another public house and these replaced by the "hardcore" non-smoker (you all must have seen the type - thats right, the 1 with the rainbow scarf that crosses the road screaming with arms freely flowing in the wind as a person is approaching them with a cigarette)

I smoke, I don't try and hide it and I know about all the dangers of smoking but I know alcohol can be worse and I have seen the problems alcohol can cause if abused on a daily basis.

[[GSV]Trig]

Maybe the money issue is why there wanting 24 hour openings then, less people smoke in pubs as u cant, so they have the pubs open longer so u can spend more on beer than ciggies....

Either way they still get there money

[Clstrphbc_donut]

I truely believe Weatherspoons will loose profit/customers over this. I'm a smoker, and i know i would much rather be able to sit and have a cig instead of standing outside in the cold/wind/rain, whatever the weather happens to be. So if i was a regular of a Weatherspoons pub, it wouldnt be for much longer. I'd rather go to an establishment where i can smoke.

My girlfriend is against smoking, and it doesnt bother her when im smoking unless i blow it in the direction of her or she is sat next to me, as then the smoke from the cigarette goes into her face.

I sympathize with non smokers, and not wanting to smell it/of it, hence why i will always ask "You dont mind me smoking do you?" if im in the company of non smokers.

[Rave]

I gave up a year ago, so this doesn't really bother me, but from a commercial perspective I still think this is crazy. As a friend of mine put it, round here 80% of Weatherspoon's clientelle is smoky old men or chavs with a 10-pack of Richmonds. There are two cheap pubs in my local town centre, a Weatherspoon and a Goose, and already the Weatherspoon is usually much emptier. My friend now refuses to go in there because the service is so crap, so I guess the ban won't affect him either....

Rich :¬)

[TiG]

weatherspoons are a unique pub in my opinion tho, it has no music, is cheap mainly due to the purchase of beer likely to just go out of date, (well that was my experience of it)

I'm not sure a smoking ban will hurt it, as in overall affect you might find people who do hate smokey pubs go there instead?.

TiG

[Honoop]

Well Ive just come back from a work lunch at a local pub which is totally non-smoking and it was actually really nice...... I didnt think it would make much difference but it really did.
Of the group of 20 only 2 were smokers, they had a quick puff outside before we all went in and then popped out to the garden when they were done with their meals. I have no idea what they thought of it - but from a non-smoking point of view it was actually really nice to sit and eat in a smoke free environment.

[Lee H]

Well Ive just come back from a work lunch at a local pub which is totally non-smoking and it was actually really nice...... I didnt think it would make much difference but it really did.
Of the group of 20 only 2 were smokers, they had a quick puff outside before we all went in and then popped out to the garden when they were done with their meals. I have no idea what they thought of it - but from a non-smoking point of view it was actually really nice to sit and eat in a smoke free environment.

I hate smoking when out for a meal and always go outside even when its raining as it ALWAYS does according to peoples perceptions about Manchester. Even though I smoke I also hate really smokey pubs and clubs as my eyes the next day tend to be redder than a 1 litre bottle of tesco value cherryade.

I reckon within a few years we'll be like Ireland with no smoking allowed in pubs etc so I better get acclimatised to getting a drenching when going for a quick cigarette break.

[Agent]

Excellent
I can only hope others will follow.
Smoke is the number one reason i dont go into pubs (i suffer from pretty bad asthma somtimes).

[Apex]

my take.

having a smoking section in a pub is like having a p1ssing section in a pool.