[Zenon]

From tomorrow, smoking in public places will be banned across Wales meaning that as I type this people will be lighting up in pubs, clubs and restaurants for the final time there, Ireland and Scotland have already established this leglisation and the big one happens on July 1st in England. Do you think the smoking ban is a good idea?, the plus side of this is that it will improve people's health but the minus side is that trade will fall meaning that it could spell the end of some of these aforementioned places due to fallen trade.

[DemonHorse]

the minus side is that trade will fall meaning that it could spell the end of some of these aforementioned places due to fallen trade.

I see no evidence of that in places that already have the ban, so that claim seems like nothing more than smoking industry propaganda to me.

[artyom]

I was in australia over the summer who have a ban already in place, and as a non smoker it was quite pleasant to be in a club where there was no smoke, but then to be honest it's not something that really irritates me.

On the other hand rather ironically, the ban will force people out into the beer gardens to smoke, which during the summer months wont be much of a propblem, but over the winter landlords will have to purchase those outside heaters, which will apparently cause something like 350000 tonnes of greenhouse gases! or so i heard. Also in the pubs that have implemented the ban since november there seems to be a lot mote cigarette ends outside the entrance to pubs. NICE!

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

The few times I have smoked has been in clubs. when i'm drunk I dont care its when I get home and realise i stink*

*of smoke rather than just my general pong.

[fish heads]

The few times I have smoked has been in clubs. when i'm drunk I dont care its when I get home and realise i stink*

*of smoke rather than just my general pong.

Me too - chaintastic

[foot-loose]

you englishers are soooo behind the times!



**sits in his smoke free environment looking important**

[Ballbag]

The problem with going to a no smoking club, is that instead of smelling the smoke in the air, you smell the rank BO and generally sweatyness of it's patrons.

Personally I prefer the smoke smell.

[DemonHorse]

We're not behind the times! Just like to smoke thats all.

Not everyone.

If there's a lot of smoke, my eyes sting like a b**ch.

[kendra k]

california has been smoke free for nearly a decade, and i love it. bars haven't really suffered. if anything, people are willing to drink more.

[MK Chris]

We're not behind the times! Just like to smoke thats all.

Not everyone.

If there's a lot of smoke, my eyes sting like a b**ch.

Agreed, though I don't agree with all the money the Government are throwing at the policing of it - this kind of law can and will enforce itself, there are people will complain soon enough and report anyone who doesn't follow, and if you're left with the odd village pub where no one cares, well then let them - if no one in there is bothered, why should anyone else be? I'm sure one day they'll be unlucky anyway and get caught out by a newcomer or a stranger who doesn't normally go in.

Are you a smoker Charlalottie? Also why does tobacco remind you of your brother? He's a smoker?

[Yudster]

I'm looking forward to smoke free interiors, and there hasn't been any evidence so far in any of the places it has happened that it adversley affects business. My concern is that all the outside spaces are now going to be filled with deperate smokers, creating their stink, filth and litter in pub gardens, parks etc. I am worried about a massive increase in the already appalling amount of mess and litter caused by smokers (I have never understood why people who would never throw a sweet wrapper onto the pavement think its okay to throw cigatette ends down). I'm not convinced that forcing smokers outside is actually what I want at all, at least as a non-smoker I can choose whether or not I go into those places. I'd much rather smoking was banned outdoors!

[Loudmouthed_Cutie]

i agree i hate having to walkt through people's smoke outside..

[kendra k]

cities in california have turned to banning smoking outdoors. in berkeley, you can't smoke within 20 feet of entryways, bus stops, or in public parks.

[Yudster]

That approach I like. Kendra, are you up late, or early?

[foot-loose]

If there's a lot of smoke, my eyes sting like a b**ch.

My mates in the same boat. He used to hate going out, especially to clubs cos he would end up with knackered eyes and feel generally crap. Since the smoking ban, its not been a problem.

I don't agree with all the money the Government are throwing at the policing of it - this kind of law can and will enforce itself

Yup. I was surprised, to be honest, when the ban came in, how easily people took too it. Obviously there was the complaints outside about having to be in the cold, but noone really moaned too much! Folk just kinda got on with it.

california has been smoke free for nearly a decade, and i love it. bars haven't really suffered. if anything, people are willing to drink more.

Same in Glasgow, as I said, more folk are happy to go to the pub now, and the smokers are not stopping drinking. The pubs prob saw a down turn in business when it kicked in, but in general, all good.

My concern is that all the outside spaces are now going to be filled with deperate smokers, creating their stink, filth and litter in pub gardens, parks etc.

You do see more folk smoking outside now obviously, but I would say that its more hanging around outside offices and pubs.

Most offices have built specail areas where workers can go, and pubs have done the same if they have the space.

With regards to litter, there is a hell of a lot more of those fag bin things everywhere. Every doorway has one beside it. I don't often see folk throwing their fags on the ground. Not any more than before anyways.

[DemonHorse]

QMC has a no smoking policy where people can't even smoke in the grounds around the building. It has people ignoring it, but largely works.

[Sidders]

I can't wait until it's banned in England. I'll have no excuses left to carry on.

[MK Chris]

QMC has a no smoking policy where people can't even smoke in the grounds around the building. It has people ignoring it, but largely works.

We have that where I work because the MD hates smoking. A few people do ignore it (or 'twist' the rules). Our chippy tends to sit in his car smoking (which is allowed as long as the window is wound up) with the window up but the door wide open.

[Yudster]

My in-laws were staying at a ittle hotel in Ireland a couple of years ago, in the sumer - and couldn't have thier bedroom window open in the evening because it overlooked the hotel's garden area, where everyone congregated to smoke. And apparently the whole garden was filthy, completely unusable for anything other than smoking, and a total no-go area for children, whereas before it had been perfect for families. I'm just worried that we will get that kind of scenario increasing.

As for the fag bins - the stench they create pollutes for miles as far as I can tell, they are the most revolting things.

Is there any evidence to suggest that the bans cause a decrease in the number of smokers? That was one of the stated reasons for introducing it I thought.

[foot-loose]

As much as I can see your point Ms Yuddy, I can't see how those things outweight the passive smoking that people would otherwise need to put up with.

I'll agree that its maybe taking it a step further than is absolutly needed - they could maybe have designated smoking rooms or something, but in the bigger picture - i think it makes the most sense to just have a total ban on it. Gets the point across as well!


**lights a fag**

[Mafro]

It's great going out and not stinking of smoke at the end of the night.

[Yudster]

If I'm completely honest, I would love for a total ban on smoking anywhere except inside your own home - but my flabby liberal heart couldn't support that kind of draconian assault on people's freedom. Soft, I am.

[kendra k]

yudster, that's pretty much my stance. luckily, i live in a place that's stupid enough to actually ban smoking in your own home too (if you have kids).

[Yudster]

See, I approve of that - I see women with tiny kids in pushchairs and toddlers walking next to them and babies growing inside them, smoking away, poisoning all of their beautiful babies, and I want to kill them. The mothers, not the babies. But I bite it down because its frowned upon to try to tell anyone else that what they are doing is wrong, even when it so plainly is.

[foot-loose]

I agree with you their yuds.

Its fine if you want to smoke in your own home, but I don't think it should be allowed if you have kids. As soon as you know you are pregnant, you should have to stop and there shouldnt be any smoking allowed in the house untill the kids are old enough to know what you are doing is wrong blah blah.

On a similar note, I nearly knocked a wee girl down the other day coz she went running across the road at a crossing when the lights were at green. Luckily I had seen her coming and she wasnt looking, she just kept going. The thing that amazed me was when another four kids (one pushing a buggy) came flying out behind her, all desperate to get to the play park.

Not one of them noticed me till they were in front of me (I had stopped by this point). I looked round to see the woman who i presume was their mother wander up to the lights (which turned to red as she got there), the green man came on and across she went as though nothing had happened! She was probably wondering why I had been sitting still on a green light!

I was livid, I couldn't believe that she had just let her five kids (poss six if there was one in the buggy) tear across a busy main road in rush hour when there was no way they could see if the road was clear, and she was doing sod all about it!