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Post by choochoo on Jul 1, 2007 10:09:51 GMT
As of today you can't smoke in pubs, clubs etc. in England. What does everyone think about this ? Obviously non-smoking customers ( and bar staff ) are going to have a healthier environment but a lot of newspaper columnists are getting themselves into a lather about the "nanny state " bossing everyone about. A friend of mine pointed out that sitting outside a pub eating a meal will not be much fun now because we'll all be wreathed in smoke from the exiled smokers !
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~RDG~
Goods Engine
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Post by ~RDG~ on Jul 1, 2007 10:15:31 GMT
It would make life better just to stop making ciggies and make smoking illegal EVERYWHERE!
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Davey
Goods Engine
V
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Post by Davey on Jul 1, 2007 10:38:02 GMT
Quite pleased really. I don't smoke and I hate the stench of it. And people do it all around me at college early in the morning. So I'm thankful that this ban is happening. Although it does raise a point; what are pubs going to smell like now?
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Post by stepneydude on Jul 1, 2007 12:41:05 GMT
I tried smoking, and really speaking I can give or take it. I didn't get what all the fun or the fuss was about. True, I've only smoked one cigarette and that probably won't do anything to me, but meh. I must say though that I enjoy the smell of a newly lit cigarette.
The ban will probably help some people to quit, so who knows. If people want to smoke, then they should be able to smoke, but just not in certain areas (like pubs and the like, obviously.), which I believe is what the ban is doing. So everyone's happy.
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Post by Jim on Jul 1, 2007 14:52:56 GMT
My city (Canadian) had a smoking ban in pubs, restaurants and public places in effect for a few years now. There was a great outcry at first about personal freedom and loss of business - but that's pretty much abated now. They've even banned it at a few Casinos and the majority of Bingo Halls - much to the ire of many Night of the Living Dead Bingo Women. I personally love it. I used to hate coming out of a nightclub or pub smelling like an ashtray. And that was only one or two nights a week for a few hours - imagine the workers being constantly exposed to all that second-hand smoke. I can recall when workers were once allowed to smoke in government offices. I remember this one draftsperson - Cécile, who had a large brown glass ashtray on her desk filled with lipstick-covered cigarette butts. She was in shock when the smoking ban in government offices took effect - long before the municipalities embraced the concept. She tried at first to sneak a smoke in the small women's washroom on our floor. It was funny, because the smoke that followed her out when she re-emerged reminded me of the opening sequence of a KISS concert. My father used to smoke nearly 2 packs a day when I was growing up, but taking up the habit in my teens never appealed to me. Smoking ban's all for the better - I say. Bad enough that the tobacco industry is introducing flavored cigarettes and chewing tobacco.
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Post by RustyFanatic05 on Jul 1, 2007 15:08:47 GMT
I'm glad smoking has been banned in most public places. I don't smoke, I never intend to. The smoke is enough to make me choke. I used to hate going into public places and smelling smoke. I say this ban on smoking will have good benefits.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2007 15:17:01 GMT
Well I'm glad to see it come in, the pub I work in is too small really for any non smoking areas and you can't escape from it all behind the bar! Now the ban has come in I don't have to clean out any ash trays, just concentrate on collecting glasses and rubbish. Its not very nice to say this, but there are some people I'll be glad to see the back of because they are rather inconsiderate with their smoke and what they do with their ash. My main concern is all of the other smells in the pub that will start to dominate, such as peanuts that have started to rot behind seats. The smell of the toilets and other musty smells that tobacco masked... After all once you are used to it, although its not something you want to smell cigarette smoke doesn't have too bad a smell. However I am glad to see the back of it!
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Post by edwardblue on Jul 1, 2007 19:32:15 GMT
Here's what I think. On one hand, it'll have an enormous positive impact on both health and the environment in public places, since second-hand smoke harms even those who don't smoke (like me). On the other hand, it'll raise a big fuss for those that do smoke, meaning they'll have less places to smoke. However, this is only a minor inconvenience, this is fantastic for the U.K.!
Though, personally, I wish they'd do something similar for the U.S. I know some U.S. cities have already passed smoking bans, but an international ban across the country would be better, dontcha think?
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Post by stuart7 on Jul 1, 2007 19:46:25 GMT
I don't smoke, but my father does. I can't say he's too pleased with it. He thinks the ban is unfair - it's like, and I can agree with him, we're being forced to give up smoking, rather than do it as and when we please. Before, when my father started going out to pubs, they had seperate smoking rooms, so he said.. Perhaps they should have had these, rather than banning smoking altogether. It's all due to this political correctness and environmental correctness. Before long, I reckon, they'll be banning steam engines from running, because they emit smoke too! I think the whole thing is just to take our minds off the Iraq War and stuff. The Government should be more concerned with stopping violent crime than smoking. Excessive smoking may have called, but a little smell of it never did.
Stuart
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Post by OJ on Jul 1, 2007 21:09:13 GMT
If it reduces Long cuncer than I support this decision. Bare in mind non smokers get affected by smokers smoking. I've lost people due to lung cancer. If this reduces it then it's a good thing.
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Mafew
Goods Engine
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Post by Mafew on Jul 1, 2007 21:09:30 GMT
I smoked my last cig over 24hours ago, stood outside at work and it was a memorable moment...not really. But the withdrawal symptoms at 3AM this morning and the coughing up blood were! And now the feelings of insane wrath at my smoking friends are sending me round the bend..lovely isn't it?
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Post by Skarloey on Jul 1, 2007 21:14:33 GMT
Good riddance, I say. Should be illegal EVERYWHERE except in private residences only. And they should stick the taxes up on it even more. Or they just don't allow NHS procedures to be undertaken on smokers if their problems are caused by smoking (not passive smokers, though). Extra taxes on tobacco products can go towards paying for these things, rather than the non-smoking taxpayer's money going to waste.
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Post by Captain Punjab on Jul 1, 2007 21:33:31 GMT
Here in hogtown, the ban on smoking happened in 2005 or so, I think. It's much better without it, and as Troublesome Truck pointed out, the furor dies down after a while. I don't plan to start smoking any time soon anyway. I can't see any reason to other than peer pressure, which for some reason isn't a problem for me (not to say that I don't have friends, they just never pressure me to do things). Good for you Mafew, I hope your quitting goes well.
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Post by stepneydude on Jul 1, 2007 21:40:16 GMT
I think the whole thing is just to take our minds off the Iraq War and stuff. The Government should be more concerned with stopping violent crime than smoking. Even if it wasn't meant to be, that is one nice conspiracy theory right there... who knows what Gordon Brown is planning?
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Post by Ryan on Jul 2, 2007 9:30:43 GMT
A smoking ban came in up here around 2006, and I must say I love it. Walking into a pub/club and it's a smoke free environment is a God-send compared to what it used to be.
There were a few problems to begin with, a few pubs shut down after the ban with loss of trade, but I reckon now just about everything's been ironed out.
However, one thing I kinda miss is when you've come in of a Friday/Saturday night and you smell your clothes afterward (prior to the ban), despite the fact they smelt unpleasant you felt as if you knew you'd been out for a good night. Just one of the reminders and hallmarks of clubbing.
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Post by The Old Bean on Jul 2, 2007 11:58:29 GMT
It will be a god-send for pubs and whatnot, but you can't make it illegal everywhere. Outside is fine.
As for the health hazards, simple Cola will damage your liver and intestines. Don't see how that will be banned...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2007 16:03:06 GMT
My shift yesterday at the pub wasn't really that much different from before the ban cam in. I counted that during the three hours that I was in there about 12 people didn't come in. 4 of those all said Roll on 1st July several times during the year, at least 2 of the others were non smokers with partners who smoked, one of those smokers said that they would stop smoking. Another couple had stopped before but started again after. As for the other couple, they have a young child and usually spend most of their time outside with only the male smoking the odd cigar. The one person who said that he would stop comming out was in the pub for a short time, then went home because he didn't like it. Although he's the sort of person that is out nearly every night so I'm not sure how long he will last until he needs to get away from his wife and into the quiet pub, lol.
The ban has really come in at the best time for pubs because it allows people to smoke outside while the weather is supposedly decent. Then as it gets colder towards the winter people will want to go outside less frequently to smoke. As it was fairly sunny when I was working the non smokers were making jokes like "I'm going outside with the smokers," and other things to that effect. In that pub I work in people prefer it without the smoke, but it doesn't really bother them too much at all.
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Post by FlyingScotsman on Jul 4, 2007 20:08:02 GMT
I am absolutely behind this ban. I have really sensitive eyes, and I really loathe going to the pub and having to wash my eyes every half hour. Plus I have mild asthma, and smoke really does not help. And I hate the smell, and the way it sticks to my hair and clothes.
I have a lot of smoker friends who talk about it as an infringement of rights, but my argument is:
1. Nobody forces you to smoke. It's a self-inflicted addiction. There are no benefits to it. 2. Making me breathe other people's smoke really is an infringement of my rights.
The other argument I hear is that alcohol is also damaging, so shouldn't drinking be banned too? To which I can give no better answer than Daniel Kitson's:
"It's not the same thing. For drinking to be the same as smoking, you'd have to take a drink, then grab the person next to you and dribble a bit of the drink into their face."
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gotSTEAM?
Branch Line Engine
Still dreaming <3
Posts: 1,234
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Post by gotSTEAM? on Jul 4, 2007 20:17:03 GMT
We have bans here in Chicago and the burbs now, it's great IMO ^^ However though my mom doesn't smoke, she thinks the bans are too 'big brotherly'...
~Elizabeth
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Post by Kate669 on Jul 4, 2007 21:23:28 GMT
New Mexico underwent a statewide smoking ban on the 15th of June, and life has actually been pretty good ever since. Our break room at work no longer has the smell of cigarettes, and is actually a rather pleasant place to take a break now (although it's still no bigger than a closet).
I myself haven't smoked in about six months (officially quit last November, but happened to pick one up one overly stressful January morning at work), so other than the break room deal I'm not really affected too much by the ban. My restaurant was already a nonsmoking establishment since December 2004 (a year after I quit the first time), but employees were still allowed to smoke outside or in the break room. Now they have to be at least 20 feet from any public building...which means they have to go all the way out to the field behind the supermarket when they want one. Customers can still smoke outside the restaurant, but a first offense of breaking the boundaries will get you a $100 fine!
So yeah, all in all it's a good thing. In the meantime, I can't help but smirk when I see my manager and two servers all traipsing out to the field in a little group late at night, then taking fifteen minutes to return.
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