UK Public Smoking Ban - July 1st

[Dynasty]

Thank god...

Just watched it on the news. Smoking in all public places will be illegal, apart from outside and private homes, as of July 1st in the UK.

[SOURCE] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6196910.stm

Now dont get me wrong, ive got nothing against smokers and smoking;

1 - its a business which gives countries income and creates jobs etc.
2 - if you want to die young thats your problem :E

I AM against going out into a club at night, or into a restaurant for lunch or whatever, and coming out later with my clean clothes STINKING of smoke, and having to inhale 2nd hand smoke, which is basically the same as smoking (making it equally as harmful), and increasing MY chances of getting cancer. You go out one night and even have to wash all your clothes again the next day to get rid of the stink.

?50 on-the-spot fine for smoking in public;
personally i dont think its enough but anyway, hopefully this WILL be effective against smoking and smokers. Since the majority of the population in the UK (granted they may all be over 40 hehe) DONT smoke, im glad the majority are being treated with a higher priority.

Some places have already implemented the smoking ban in their own cafe's and restaurants.

I think its a good step forward to personal and community health in the UK.

Medical evidence

Ms Hewitt said the ban would protect everyone from second-hand smoke, while making it easier for smokers to quit.

"The scientific and medical evidence is clear - second-hand smoke kills, causing a range of serious medical conditions including lung cancer, heart disease, and sudden infant death syndrome," she said.

"This legislation will help to prevent the unnecessary deaths caused every year from second-hand smoke, and recognises that there is absolutely no safe level of exposure."

The government predicts about 600,000 people will give up smoking as a result of the law change.

Enough said i think.

[EDIT] APOLOGIES FOR THE SLIGHT FLAME WAR THAT THIS THREAD CREATED...JUST THOUGHT PEOPLE WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KNOW, NOT ARGUE ABOUT...

 

[StardogChampion]

I think it's been banned in Scotland for a while now.

Smoking has no use whatsoever, so I'm glad it's banned.

 

[Solaris]

Personally I don't like this at all.

No smoking in public? Why the hell not? I'm outside in public very rarely, and at most I might smell and thus inhale cigarette smoke once a day as I walk past someone. I sincerely doubt this has any negative impact on my health. I don't mind people smoking outside, hell even if I did that doesn't mean it should be banned. What about ugly people, I'd rather go into town knowing everyones going to be hot, is that grounds to ban Ugly people from public places? No, its retarded.

 

[Baserape>]

I think it's pathetic. I hope you get what you deserve...a nanny state.

Yes I smoke, but ATM smokers and non smokers have a choice. In July smokers will have none.

 

[Dynasty]

Personally I don't like this at all.

No smoking in public? Why the hell not? I'm outside in public very rarely, and at most I might smell and thus inhale cigarette smoke once a day as I walk past someone. I sincerely doubt this has any negative impact on my health. I don't mind people smoking outside, hell even if I did that doesn't mean it should be banned. What about ugly people, I'd rather go into town knowing everyones going to be hot, is that grounds to ban Ugly people from public places? No, its retarded.

Its more of a matter of public health. Its always the smokers that disagree with any form of anti-smoking system the most...ironic. And no im not saying YOU Solaris

 

[jondy]

Personally I don't like this at all.

No smoking in public? Why the hell not? I'm outside in public very rarely, and at most I might smell and thus inhale cigarette smoke once a day as I walk past someone. I sincerely doubt this has any negative impact on my health. I don't mind people smoking outside, hell even if I did that doesn't mean it should be banned. What about ugly people, I'd rather go into town knowing everyones going to be hot, is that grounds to ban Ugly people from public places? No, its retarded.

That's a nonsensical analogy. Aside from the smell being pretty repulsive, smoking f*cks you and the people around you up - you're somehow confusing the baseline issues of health and antisocial behaviour here with human rights.

The right to swing your fist ends where the other person's face begins, and the metaphorical face here is public health.

 

[lePobz]

Smokers are responsible for global warming. It's a little known fact.

 

[jverne]

we'll be getting it too, and i'm glad! no more stinking smokers and red eyes in pubs.

 

[kirovman]

Personally, I am glad.

I don't like having to immediately change into new clothes and wash my hair after coming home from the pub.

 

[jondy]

Personally, I am glad.

I don't like having to immediately change into new clothes and wash my hair after coming home from the pub.

Heh, I always whack my clothes in the tumble dryer, seems to sort it out. S'pose it wouldn't work for hair though.

 

[CrazyHarij]

wtf, that's a seriously stupid rule. even if i didn't smoke i'd think that.

what are you going to ban next, cars for their exhaust, cellphones for their radiation, junk food for the harming of the ecology, various household objects for child workers in the 3rd world?

Its always the smokers that disagree with any form of anti-smoking system the most

WOW! that's really surprising, isn't it? who would disagree with a ban on religion the most, the religious people or the non-religious people?

Smokers are responsible for global warming. It's a little known fact.

what in modern society isn't responsible for global warming nowadays? heck, these days you can barely walk down the street without violating something.

Smoking has no use whatsoever, so I'm glad it's banned.

so you're in favor for banning everything that is of no use? what about posting on a forum in the anus of the internet?

feels great dictating other people on how they should live, doesn't it?

glad to live in sweden.

 

[Bad^Hat]

heck, these days you can barely walk down the street without violating something.

HEY! That's completely involuntary. I have a doctor's certificate

 

[Solaris]

That's a nonsensical analogy. Aside from the smell being pretty repulsive, smoking f*cks you and the people around you up - you're somehow confusing the baseline issues of health and antisocial behaviour here with human rights.

The right to swing your fist ends where the other person's face begins, and the metaphorical face here is public health.

Sorry mate, but did you actually read my post? I explained why your reasoning that your using there is incorrect, and instead of reputing it you just used the same reasoning I'd already pre-empted.

If I am standing outside the libary smoking, who's human rights am I denying?

I presume your going to say "right to life", so the question is,

In what way does 'walking past/standing next to someone for a short while' who happens to be smoking damage your own personal health? I can see a case for banning it indoors, but outside is just silly. If I smoke outside it's not damaging anyones health, is it?

And by the way I don't smoke.

 

[Atomic_Piggy]

Good news, hopefully this will inspire some smokers too stop, if not, at least it'll cut out passive smoking (unless it happens in their homes amoung a family)

 

[knut]

Awesome news. Just last night my mate got into a car with us and stank of smoke. Disgusting habit.

 

[Dynasty]

I dont think the ban counts for outside, only indoors.

In all honesty they should ban it outright but at the same time i doubt theyd fine you for walking down the street smoking.

Only reason they havent banned smoking all together is because its a big business. Money is what makes this world go 'round and its pathetic.

And Solaris, 2nd hand smoke is just as bad as smoking itself. I mean, its not filtered any more than when you, the smoker, inhales it. And by 2nd hand smoke i mean the smoke that comes off the end of the cigarette, not when you breathe it out (but even then its still bad).

I can only think of one good thing that comes from smoking (and its actually just for a laugh):

Catch a fly and put it in the fridge, which puts it to sleep.

You then put it in an ash tray, put some fairly warm ashes from a cigarette over it (bury it), sit and wait. The fly wakes up, walks around then flies off.

 

[DreamThrall]

what are you going to ban next, cars for their exhaust, cellphones for their radiation, junk food for the harming of the ecology, various household objects for child workers in the 3rd world?

People don't NEED cigarettes for anything. People need cars and trucks to get places in a reasonable amount of time and to transport freight. cell phones also serve a significant purpose, and their radiation (which i'm not sure the long term effects of which have been significantly linked to anything) doesn't cause nearly as many deaths as cigarette smoke does. And are you really comparing cigarettes to junk food and products of child labor? THAT is stupid.

WOW! that's really surprising, isn't it? who would disagree with a ban on religion the most, the religious people or the non-religious people?

Comparing cigarettes to religion? Right. Although, look at how many people religion has killed... far worse than cigarettes could ever hope. BAN RELIGION!

what in modern society isn't responsible for global warming nowadays?

I think that was a joke

so you're in favor for banning everything that is of no use? what about posting on a forum in the anus of the internet?

Forums, with the exceptions of the idiots who get offended and kill themselves, don't harm anyone, and don't kill/cause cancer in non-users and bystanders when people post in them.

feels great dictating other people on how they should live, doesn't it?

Look at it the other way... sitting in a bar/pub/whatever and smoking, you're forcing everyone else near you to smoke. Feels great dictating to other people how they should live, doesn't it?

 

[CrazyHarij]

i dont smoke in pubs because it's illegal and that's fine, it's a good rule. but banning smoking outside is ****ing ridiculous

 

[Solaris]

I dont think the ban counts for outside, only indoors.

In all honesty they should ban it outright but at the same time i doubt theyd fine you for walking down the street smoking.

Only reason they havent banned smoking all together is because its a big business. Money is what makes this world go 'round and its pathetic.

And Solaris, 2nd hand smoke is just as bad as smoking itself. I mean, its not filtered any more than when you, the smoker, inhales it. And by 2nd hand smoke i mean the smoke that comes off the end of the cigarette, not when you breathe it out (but even then its still bad).

I can only think of one good thing that comes from smoking (and its actually just for a laugh):

Catch a fly and put it in the fridge, which puts it to sleep.

You then put it in an ash tray, put some fairly warm ashes from a cigarette over it (bury it), sit and wait. The fly wakes up, walks around then flies off.

Mate, I'm not trying to be offensive here but who are you to tell people what they can and cannot do if it only harms themselves?

Imo, it is a fundamental principle of any free society that you are free to do what you wish until that infringes on the freedom of other people. In a free society, you do not get to make decisions on behalf of other people. Whatever a said person does with their life, that is their choice, we should not prevent people doing things unless it harms others or they are insane.

Imo, the only valid reasoning for banning smoking is if it harms the health of other people. Any other line of reasoning, imo, goes against a persons right to be free.

 

[DreamThrall]

i dont smoke in pubs because it's illegal and that's fine, it's a good rule. but banning smoking outside is ****ing ridiculous

I thought it just said public places. If you want to smoke in your yard while you're BBQing or something I would think that'd be fine.

If you wanted to walk down a city block smoking, YOU'D be FINED.

That least that's what I got out of it.

 

[Stigmata]

Harij:

Posting on forum
Pros: exercizing free speech, remote communication
Cons: Might lead to hate speech, bullying, law-breaking (though any form of freedom leads to that), etc.

Smoking
Pros: ...
Cons: Poisons you, poisons others, causes cancer (among dozens of other harmful effects), costs the healthcare industry an exorbitant amount of money to treat its effects

This isn't an issue of personal freedom so much as an issue of people ruining the health of others.

 

[KagePrototype]

I doubt a lot of people will bother following this law.

 

[Solaris]

Harij:

Posting on forum
Pros: exercizing free speech, remote communication
Cons: Might lead to hate speech, bullying, law-breaking (though any form of freedom leads to that), etc.

Smoking
Pros: ...
Cons: Poisons you, poisons others, causes cancer (among dozens of other harmful effects), costs the healthcare industry an exorbitant amount of money to treat its effects

Don't bother trying to defend the reasoning: it has no pros so lets ban it. There's a million irrefutable examples that you couldn't counter, because it's dangerously ignorant reasoning.

And if it had no reason to exist it would not exist, it is, smoking is in high demand because it does have pros.

Contrary to what I've been taught over the last 14 years:
Smoking is fun

Just it can be dangerous if you make it a habit.

 

[Unfocused]

Good.

I hate it when I get out of a club and my clothes and hair stink with ciggarette smoke.

 

[Tagaziel]

Finally.

I'm a son of a doctor who used to smoke, so I have a pretty good pictire of what effect this type of drug has on a human. Especially passive smoking.

 

[DreamThrall]

And if it had no reason to exist it would not exist, it is, smoking is in high demand because it does have pros.

There are a million reasons why smoking is in high demand, but one of them is not because there are any benefits of smoking. I was a smoker for several years, quit cold turkey, and I'm not missing out on anything. Perhaps people PERCEIVE smoking as having benefits.

 

[Absinthe]

This is bullshit. Guess I'm never going to a club or bar in the UK (not that I'd ever want to).

 

[Solaris]

There are a million reasons why smoking is in high demand, but one of them is not because there are any benefits of smoking. I was a smoker for several years, quit cold turkey, and I'm not missing out on anything. Perhaps people PERCEIVE smoking as having benefits.

Yes, people do perceive it as having benefits.

There is no universal truth about whether smoking is bad or good, its just an opinion, and thus ALWAYS perception.

If people want to do something and it doesn't harm you, you have no right to stop them from doing it.

See, I even underlined the bit about harm, so you could pick it out and use some decent reasoning other than "I don't think it's good and so no-one else should be able to do it". Because that is, pretty much what your arguments are coming down too, and such reasoning is NOT compatible with a free society.

 

[Tagaziel]

Solaris, were you born stupid or are you trying hard to be?

Smoking IS hazardous to health - not only the smokers but also those around you, as smoke contains an array of harmful substances that are emitted with every puff. Plus, leftovers from cigarettes are common urban litter and banning smoking would at least serve to limit the amount of such trash.

Though I may be biased, as smoking killed my grandmother and almost took my grandfater. Not to mention that my parents had health problems because of this.

 

[Solaris]

Solaris, were you born stupid or are you trying hard to be?

Smoking IS hazardous to health - not only the smokers but also those around you, as smoke contains an array of harmful substances that are emitted with every puff. Plus, leftovers from cigarettes are common urban litter and banning smoking would at least serve to limit the amount of such trash.

Though I may be biased, as smoking killed my grandmother and almost took my grandfater. Not to mention that my parents had health problems because of this.

[Notice lack of insult]

Yes I am aware smoking is hazardous to health, no where have I said it wasn't. However, people here have not been using the 'Smoking harms other people so it should be banned argument' as much as they should be. Instead we have seen 'Smoking has no use so it should be banned' and such arguments being used and I have explained why these arguments are anti-freedom.

Now, with regards to the litter argument, you know what else is littered? Everything! You going to ban that?

And respectfully, with regards to your grandparents, smoking didn't kill them, they killed themselves using smoking as a tool, your parents health problems are the fault of your grandparents, not smoking.

Respectfully, if someones grandparents beat their children with sticks and then beat each other to death, you would ban sticks, you'd ban child abuse. I think exposing children to second hand smoke at home is child abuse, although in the past, people were unaware of the dangers of second hand smoke and can be forgiven.

 

[Absinthe]

My preference would be at the least, separating smoking areas from non-smoking areas. If a club/pub enacts a non-smoking rule, fine. But I don't want to hear people bitching about "omg my clothes stink" in areas where it's acceptable when an alternative is available.

As somebody who has been to quite a few clubs in my life, it's my personal experience that second-hand smoke is such a negligible force when considering the smoker/non-smoker ratio, as well as the non-smokers who have absolutely no problem with it. I need not mention the regular issue of drinking excessively or drug use that such venues usually have (and frankly that's a bigger problem than any second-hand puff in the UK).

I don't buy into this pro/con shit regarding smoking. You could argue that it has no benefits to the individual, but the same could be said of alcohol. They're both detrimental substances, but it incontestable that the pint you merrily gulp down has its social use.

But as a smoker, I'm obviously not wearing clear shades on the matter. And I don't expect the majority to bend over backwards for my habits. So I essentially accept that this is just some tough shit smokers are going to have to deal with. You can either not smoke in these places or not go at all. I know I'd subscribe to the latter for most cases.

 

[Stigmata]

If people want to do something and it doesn't harm you, you have no right to stop them from doing it.

GG forgetting that we've known second-hand smoke is incredibly harmful for over a decade.

 

[Solaris]

GG forgetting that we've known second-hand smoke is incredibly harmful for over a decade.

Tell me, did I mention smoking in that sentance? No, I was stating a principle and thus the if.

 

[Stigmata]

Tell me, did I mention smoking in that sentance? No, I was stating a principle and thus the if.

Ahh, alright. Still, smoking IS harmful, and it DOES harm people who do not smoke.

Also...

And respectfully, with regards to your grandparents, smoking didn't kill them, they killed themselves using smoking as a tool, your parents health problems are the fault of your grandparents, not smoking.

No offense, but this is an incredibly ignorant and downright stupid comment. Saying his grandparents committed suicide by smoking is like saying my dad committed suicide by getting terminal cancer.

 

[CrazyHarij]

Solaris, were you born stupid or are you trying hard to be?

try and refrain from personal attacks.

I don't buy into this pro/con shit regarding smoking. You could argue that it has no benefits to the individual, but the same could be said of alcohol. They're both detrimental substances, but it incontestable that the pint you merrily gulp down has its social use.

agreed.

non smokers, get the hint: i don't owe you an explanation why i smoke, and what i consider to be it's pro's. just because you dont' see any pro's in it doesn't justify banning it so you don't have to deal with it. society is multicultural and multiopinionated, no one can protect you from the wonderful multfaceted nature of humanity.

I thought it just said public places. If you want to smoke in your yard while you're BBQing or something I would think that'd be fine.

If you wanted to walk down a city block smoking, YOU'D be FINED.

i dont have a yard, i live in an apartment and the land lord has forbidden me to smoke in doors, so my only choice is to smoke outdoors.

anyway, i'm going to quote bill hicks on this, as i doubt anyone else has put it more accurately; non-smokers die every day.

 

[Absinthe]

Also...No offense, but this is an incredibly ignorant and downright stupid comment. Saying his grandparents committed suicide by smoking is like saying my dad committed suicide by getting terminal cancer.

To be blunt, this is the case. The relationship between smoking and cancer is that one is a result of the other. Suicide may not be the appropriate term, but it was indeed death brought about by their own volition.

 

[Dynasty]

Mate, I'm not trying to be offensive here but who are you to tell people what they can and cannot do if it only harms themselves?

But it doesnt only harm themselves.

THATS THE WHOLE POINT OF THE BAN!

 

[Dynasty]

There are a million reasons why smoking is in high demand, but one of them is not because there are any benefits of smoking. I was a smoker for several years, quit cold turkey, and I'm not missing out on anything. Perhaps people PERCEIVE smoking as having benefits.

Ive heard its hard to quit, so i take my hat off to you.

 

[DreamThrall]

Ahh, alright. Still, smoking IS harmful, and it DOES harm people who do not smoke.

Also...No offense, but this is an incredibly ignorant and downright stupid comment. Saying his grandparents committed suicide by smoking is like saying my dad committed suicide by getting terminal cancer.

Also, the determination that smoking is bad probably didn't come until after it was too late for them. Even if they did find out, the negative stigma that today's society attaches to smoking hadn't yet been ingrained into their heads the way it is with us today. To them it must've been like okay - we've been smoking for 30 years (or whatever), and now some scientists and/or doctors are saying its not such a great idea?

Plus, even if they did realize it was bad, it is VERY hard for someone to quit once they are truly addicted. They wouldn't have had the resources for helping them quit that we have today either, and there wouldn't have been as much of a drive to do so because of the lack of the negative stigma I mentioned earlier.


It would be like if 20 years from now there was a sudden medical breakthrough that proves chewing gum could cause cancer and birth deformities, etc. It wouldn't be fair for our grandchildren to say WELL ITS YOUR OWN ****ING FAULT IDIOTS LOL. We'd have no idea.

Ive heard its hard to quit, so i take my hat off to you.

Well in all honesty, I was nowhere near as addicted as a lot of people get, and I only smoked like a pack to 2 packs a week. Thanks though It does make a big difference... I used to wake up every morning with the worst taste in my mouth and hack up a few teaspoons the phlegm in the shower. Once I quit, that all went away. Plus I don't smell. But even smoking that little, I still felt a little withdrawal - got cold sweats, snapped at my wife a few times for no good reason, etc.

 

[Dynasty]

Well in all honesty, I was nowhere near as addicted as a lot of people get, and I only smoked like a pack to 2 packs a week. Thanks though It does make a big difference... I used to wake up every morning with the worst taste in my mouth and hack up a few teaspoons the phlegm in the shower. Once I quit, that all went away. Plus I don't smell. But even smoking that little, I still felt a little withdrawal - got cold sweats, snapped at my wife a few times for no good reason, etc.

Lol that sounds like fun!!!

*runs to Tesco and buys some fags*....