Smoking ban what do you think?

[dave]

Which of course is the argument. You could apply the same argument to salt, sugar, bread, eggs (which they have just done in fact), beer, wine, stress(which is the main cause of heart attacks), cars, lorries, 4x4's, diesel fumes, butter etc....

YET, would you want to bet which is the healthiest country in the G8 (according to the WHO)?

France - yep, that's right - those that eat more butter, smoke more, drink more wine and beer than all the others, and yet, have lower cancer rates and a much, much lower heart attack rate - in fact, in Toulouse heart desease in men is less than 2 in every 100,000 (although it is believed that this is the result of the fact that they eat much more duck liver pate than anywhere else).

In a world where fags, beer, wine, cars, etc... were banned, I can't see the point in living longer.

[monopoly23]

Its not the point of it being bad for us though is it? We all KNOW the damage it does etc etc.

The fact is that it's our free will which is slowly being taken away in this supposed free country.

[MilkTrayMan]

Originally Posted by dave

Hence: BBC NEWS | UK | Drink campaign 'has wrong focus'

Push people out of pubs (smoking/stupidy high prices), then tax them out of existence when they have a drink at home.

Let's get things into perspective...
BBC News | At-A-Glance

It's the MALE curse of shaving that's the real danger!...
BBC NEWS | Health | 'Aftershave drink' kills Russians
...'Tis a Female plot to keep us docile, when they make their Xmas pressie choices!...lol...

[dave]

I don't think it's been a free country for a little while.

...but that is exactly the point, and I'm astonished at the people that condone it happening.

[dave]

Originally Posted by MilkTrayMan

Let's get things into perspective...
BBC News | At-A-Glance

EXACTLY - so what is the real reason for the targetting of drink - dosh, and lot's of it - and of course "it's for your own good".

The fact is that there were a lot less people around in the early 1900's too, plus we ruled the world pretty much then - we had the best education, best services etc... in the world. It was only 100 years ago!

[MilkTrayMan]

Originally Posted by dave

...plus we ruled the world pretty much then - we had the best education, best services etc... in the world. It was only 100 years ago!

The good ol' days eh?!

NO coincidence things started going downhill once women got the vote then, I don't suppose??!...lol...

Anyone recall the fact that they deliberately outlive us, on average, just so that they have the last word + tell us 'I told U so' as well, out of sheer spite??!...lol...

[monopoly23]

I get the feeling you've had bad experiences wih women MTM...

Just remember that they're not all the same, just like not all men are lazy, farting, nose picking, good for nothing layabouts.

[noobrider]

the smoking ban is a travesty that should never have been allowed ...what happened to human rights......almost as silly as it being illegal to commit suicide....how are they going to prosecute you when your dead?...or even todays press release where you now have to have a licence for your sporran.....

[The cobbett slayer]

Mrs Slayer (clever cow who stopped smoking 20 a day when she found out she was pregnant 3 years ago) has bought me a hypnosis CD.

I'll give it a go but like most smokers I am a nicotine addict. I do want to give up but my addiction makes it hard for me to imagine life without my cigarettes.

The smoking ban itself won't make a lot of difference to me in terms of where I smoke. I don't smoke in the house or in my car because of my little boy. I rarely smoke at work even though we have been given a designated smoking area - God bless the NHS! If I do find time to go out it is invariably as a family so we are outside anyway.

My biggest concern about the ban is the affect it has on people who need to smoke. If a drug addict or alcoholic goes into hospital, they are given drugs to cope with withdrawal. Nicotine addicts are left to go "cold turkey". Only yesterday I came across a man dressed in only pyjamas and a dressing gown standing in a bus shelter outside Rotherham General Hospital so he could have a smoke. He was 400 yards from the hospital entrance because the "smoke monitors" had thrown him off the site. It was pi**ing it down with rain so I put him in my vehicle and took him back to the hospital.

Funny how we can protect paedophiles and child killers (the Jamie Bulger case springs to mind) but light a fag and suddenly you are a threat to the world.

[Robertxc]

I smoked 30 a day for years. One day I read Allen Carr's book and have never smoked since. No withdrawal, no cravings, nothing. I put it down after reading it and KNEW that I was now a non-smoker. Like Wales, Scotland has had a ban on smoking in the workplace for a while. I think it's the single best thing the Scottish parliament has done so far. And I agree, the best bit is coming home form a good night out without stinking like an ashtray.

[monopoly23]

I also read that book. I got to about chapter 9 and I really did not want to smoke ever again, but he insists that you carry on whilst reading. I finished the book but didn't end up having the same feelings as I did when I was at chapter 9. If I had just stopped instead of carrying on like he said, I would probably be a non-smoker now.

[SteveH2508]

The bit that really grips my sh*t is that PRIVATE members clubs are being told to ban smoking but the House of Commons bars are exempt!!

And prisoners can smoke in their cells......

Lightbulb moment!

Torch a certain HQ in Chester - get locked up - board/lodging paid for AND indoor smokes!

(Only kidding!!)

[Russjo]

I've tried giving up a few times now , but I became a hermit every time, because I was frightened to go anywhere which might tempt me. I think it will certainly do me a favour because when I know I'm in a non-smoking area, it doesn't seem to bother me as much. Trying for the umpteenth time today to give up

[jansus]

I agree that the smoking ban in pubs is probably a good idea - and in principle approve - however, the time and money that the government has spent on this in leaflets advertising legal advice etc etc is criminal and time wasting - Personally i think they should be spending more time clearing up the damage caused to our youngsters that has been instigated by the de-classificationof cannabis. They are at more risk from this and the consequences than someone puffing smoke in their face.

Only a personal view I know - and another debate - but I am so worried by the amount of young depressed paranoid young teenagers i see around us.

So in other words - the government should get its priorities right - and stop burdening businesses with more red-tape with yet another Health and safety issue- soon we wont be able to make any decisions ourselves - we will totally rely on others to measure each risk for us.

Jansus

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by Robertxc

I smoked 30 a day for years. One day I read Allen Carr's book and have never smoked since. No withdrawal, no cravings, nothing. I put it down after reading it and KNEW that I was now a non-smoker. Like Wales, Scotland has had a ban on smoking in the workplace for a while. I think it's the single best thing the Scottish parliament has done so far. And I agree, the best bit is coming home form a good night out without stinking like an ashtray.

I read that book too. Alan Carr is my guru. I also knew that I was a non-smoker the minute I finished it. The funny thing is though, I do not mind other people smoking around me. I don't even mind the smell (not that I think it's pleasant either) and I can quite happily sit in a pub with my smoker friends. I think the public should have been allowed to vote with their feet. Smoking permitted places & non smoking places so we have the freedom of choice.

[Robertxc]

Well, in Scotland at least the legislation is designed to protect pub and bingo workers from passive smoking, that's why the ban is specifically 'in the workplace'. I can appreciate all the human rights arguments etc., but how many smokers have you ever met who, given their life to live over again, would never have started in the first place. For me, Allen Carr's book was, without question the best £6.99 I have EVER spent. After I read it my wife (who was also on 30 a day) read it too and never smoked again. Now, if I could just do something about the pie abuse...