Banning Public Smoking

[[R4A]Bigman]

I know this has been a little while since it was in the news, but a post I just made reminded me of it and I think its an excellent discussion point.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3041344.stm

Basically for those who cba reading it, should smoking in public places be made illegal by the government. It would appear that Labour are pushing for it.

Currently (iirc) you can be fined £50 for dropping and stubbing out cigarettes in the street, as it is the littering fine. Do you think this is reasonable / unreasonable?

The new legislation may mean that people can only smoke in their own homes. Is this unreasonable?

How much money would this save the population? How much tax revenue would be lost due to the fall in cigarette purchases? Would cigarette purchases indeed fall? How much tax money would be saved when lung cancer and other smoking related illnesses fall and not have to be paid for by the NHS?

Discuss

[XTR]

BAN IT!!!! They have in America... Lets follow there footsteps! its a disguisting habit

[Knoxville]

I think it should be banned in public areas - shopping centres, parks etc but area's for people who want to smoke should be provided.

As for in pubs and clubs i dunno, i think the system we have in pubs etc is perfectly adequate as long as it is enforced properly

[Punky]

i smoke, but i don't smoke in places where i know it will cause offence or harm to others, especially young people e.g. sittin at the bus stop, in restaurants etc.. i smoke in the pub, because nearly everyone else in there does. smokers have rights too, they can't be persecuted by a non-smoking group for their habit. smokers just have to act responsibly.

[Flibb]

I would have thought car engine fumes would be more of a hazard, but could be wrong what you lot think? Businesses have the right to ban smoking on their premises so clubs pubs etc but would have thought that most shopping centres have good enough ventilation to stop it being a problem. I dont smoke but think that its down to the indevidual to choose. If I go someplace and thers loads of people smoking I take my business someplace else, but walking down the street the amout you take in probably pails into insignificance compared to diesel and petrol fumes.
Flibb

[Flibb]

Remends me of Billy Conolly inteview where hes smoking a cigar in teh one place in a US hotel where its allowed. Then somebody asks him to stop he wasnt best pleased.
Flibb

[fondie]

ban it! prehaps too if kids don't see people smoking in public then less will want to take it up?

[Slick]

Ban it! Passive smoking in open air places causes nearly no damage in comparison to other forms of pollution but if this gives out the impression that smoking is less acceptable hopefully less people will do it. This obviously won't happen immediately due to the addiction.

[sean]

just ban it
ban it i say!

[Lead_Head]

I think it should be banned. I dont smoke, non of my family does. It's something that I am proud of, I have never tried smoking, havent tried dope either. And it's not because I havent been offered any.

However, banning smoking in public places will give kids the extra "buzz" of breaking the law.

Who would police it?

It only works in America because America's police system actually works :/

Nick

[[R4A]Bigman]

Originally posted by not_your_punk
i smoke, but i don't smoke in places where i know it will cause offence or harm to others, especially young people e.g. sittin at the bus stop, in restaurants etc.. i smoke in the pub, because nearly everyone else in there does. smokers have rights too, they can't be persecuted by a non-smoking group for their habit. smokers just have to act responsibly.

Yeah it is up to smokers to be responsible, and it appears that you, sir, are quite so. However everyone knows that most smokers couldn't give one. Smoking in crowded queues at theme parks, in bus stations with no ventalation NEXT TO THE DAMN NO SMOKING SIGNS (local case, but im sure it happens elsewhere as well), and in other places.

Would it really be that much of a problem for you do only smoke at home and in licenced areas such as pubs and clubs? It sounds to me that ur pretty much doing that anyway.

I think that it would reduce smoking in the population (and I do think that smokin is completely pointless, no offence intended), and improve the country's health. I know many smokers, I have nothing against them, I just feel they can do what they want with their bodies without infringing on everyone else's health.

[[R4A]Bigman]

Originally posted by Lead_Head
I think it should be banned. I dont smoke, non of my family does. It's something that I am proud of, I have never tried smoking, havent tried dope either. And it's not because I havent been offered any.

However, banning smoking in public places will give kids the extra "buzz" of breaking the law.

Who would police it?

It only works in America because America's police system actually works :/

Nick

I don't believe its about the buzz of breaking the law for most. I honestly believe that half of the kids who smoke now wouldn't have if it was illegal. Most do it from peer pressure, and if thats removed (or at least lessened) then that should create a unstoppable slowing of the numbers of people smoking.

[THCi]

Yes: I don't like being murdered by others' smoke

Hmm, how does this happen, exactly, when you are standing waiting for a bus on a rainy street?

Id love to know that, especially as its almost always windy where I wait for my bus? Ie, the smoke gets blown away.

I would agree to the not inside malls, and the like, BUT(note the caps) NOT (again take note) that bars and pubs have a long history of smoke rooms, and usually have a smokie atmosphere that is characteristic of how a pub is usually seen!

Ie, I have mixed views, being a smoker myself.

[Punky]

Originally posted by THCi
Ie, I have mixed views, being a smoker myself.

i thought you quit ages ago when we were back in college? hmm....i detect the fine scent of male cow dung...

[Knoxville]

If your standing next to someone a percentage however small of what you breathe out will be inhaled by them.

Multiply that by the amount of times that person will stand at a bus stop or next to a smoker. It may not have the same effect as smoking, but can still cause damage.

Local pubs are indeed sterotyped as having a smokey atmosphere. But should it be this way? or is it another out-dated stereotype?

I was in a pub tonight, you'd be amazed just how few people were smoking in there. I have friends who smoke, and friends that hate it. I myself have smoked cigars, cigarettes and herbal remedies myself and feel no addiction or craving to do so again. I might and probably will but it will be because i want to and not because i feel i need to.

btw i along with punk thought you quit ages ago? did you, or was there a lack of will power there aswell?

[Theo]

I disagree with a full ban on public smoking. Hower, I do agree that a partial ban, in a few public areas is a good idea. For example, in places such as shopping centres, themeparks, restaurants etc. I can imagine how off-putting it is for people having a meal in a restaurant, when theres someone blowing a load of smelly fumes in your face.

However, places such as public houses, streets, and nightclubs, on the other hand, are places in which I think smokers should be allowed to smoke in. (as long as there is an apt form of extinguishing and disposing of the cigarette once finished. eg ashtrays). I, for one, do like a cigarette with my John Smiths.