Should smoking be banned in public places? (UK)

Superman · Fleet Admiral Joined: 06 Dec 2003 Posts: 10220

There's been a lot of talk recently about banning smoking in public places, here in Britain. Should it be done or not?

I am a non-smoker, I have never smoked in my life. But I can see both sides of this issue.

Non-smokers SHOULDN'T have to breath in cigarette or carrot smoke. At the very least, I think smokers should perhaps ask someone if they mind them lighting up. And it's not fair if a non-smoker feels he or she can't go to a cafe or pub because they don't like smoke.

However, if we ban smoking in public places, do we set a precedent? Are we allowing the government too much say in how we run our lives? How soon before they ban drinking fizzy pop or alcohol or chocolate in public places? A smoking ban COULD set a precedent.

It's an issue that requires a lot of thought. I personally do not like it that tobacco companies can make money off an addictive drug that can kill people. But at the end of the day, free will is the greatest gift we can have. Should we not let adults decide what they want to do?

1/1 · **Thu Oct 21, 2004 1:33 pm**

I don't think smoking should be banned. It sometimes gives a place its atmosphere. Also, I think you are right when you say our bodies are our own and we can do what we want. People are allowed to eat and drink what they want. If they ban smoking in public, they'll be banning drinking alcohol in public next.

Seven of Nine · **Thu Oct 21, 2004 2:21 pm**

*In quite a few places you can't drink alcohol in public places*

YES! Why should me and my daughter have our health ruined by a few thoughtless people? There is already a very high rate of asthma in this country, and it's only going to get worse while people are allowed to blow smoke into babies faces (some people have done that to Sammie... I could've killed them, but I have too much respect for their rights).

syd2002 · **Thu Oct 21, 2004 4:43 pm**

Over here, this has been already done.

1/1 · **Thu Oct 21, 2004 4:45 pm**

Birdy · Socialist Joined: 20 Sep 2004 Posts: 13502 Location: Here.

Well.. we've already banned it out here in Holland, and for me it's working pretty well!

No, kidding. I hear some smokers who obviously find it hard to deal with, their smoking areas are very limited.
But I think it's for the best. Tell me, what advantage has smoking? Nothing!

Superman · Fleet Admiral Joined: 06 Dec 2003 Posts: 10220

I'm certainly all for having smoking/non-smoking areas in public places. And anyone who smokes over a child or blows smoke in a child's face deserves a fire extinguisher aimed at them (not that I'd recommend that, folks).

I see only one solution-EDUCATION. Educate people about their bodies, educate them about the dangers of tobacco, educate them about diets, about salt, about alcohol. Educate them and then let them make the decision. If you try to ban someone from doing something, they'll find a way to do it. Educate them and they may think twice.

Nate Jameson · **Thu Oct 21, 2004 7:00 pm**

I believe that Smoking should be banned in public places, but not make it illegal. It is after all a person's choice weather or not to smoke and damage their own health. I don't think that we should take that right away from people if they do it privately, but they shouldn't expose others to it.

harrykims#1fan · **Fri Oct 22, 2004 8:44 am**

i think it should be banned in public places no specific reason its just anti social..If the can charge ya �50 for droppin litter they should do the same for smoking in public

Otter · **Fri Oct 22, 2004 1:21 pm**

IT'S a KILLER

1/1 · **Sun Oct 24, 2004 11:24 am**

sabertooth1217 · **Sun Oct 24, 2004 12:23 pm**

I'm going to vote...Yes. I really hate it when people smoke around me; it�s bad for your lungs on so many levels. My entire extended family smokes and I have to sit away from them when we met up at reunions and such. If a person really wants to die (Each time you smoke you cut 7 minuets off your life) Then I say go for it, but not around me.

Jeremy · **Sun Oct 24, 2004 4:33 pm**

I think it should be banned, but that they can smoke in a few public places, but they have to have signs so that people know. Also that would help the staff as they couldn't complain about their health being damaged because they would know the dangers before.

If someone blew smoke in my baby's face I think I'd kick them in. As it is I sometimes cough loudly up behind them,

Superman · Fleet Admiral Joined: 06 Dec 2003 Posts: 10220

Some smoker blew smoke in my face once in a pub. I had an argument with him.

Anyway, I later spoke to a colleague at work who was a smoker. However, he wasn't a drinker of alcohol. He said that smoking is no different to alcohol. But I soon attacked that argument. Some (not all) smokers blow smoke in people's faces. But drinkers of beer do not spit beer at people's faces. That's the difference.

LightningBoy · **Sun Oct 24, 2004 5:22 pm**

Should ugly people be banned in public places? I don't want to look at them...

If you don't like it, go somewhere where the owner of the establishment banned smoking. None around? Start your own.

Individual liberties please?

Superman · Fleet Admiral Joined: 06 Dec 2003 Posts: 10220

IntrepidIsMe · **Sun Oct 24, 2004 7:42 pm**

Smoking is illegal in restaurants and bars here in NY. Works out fine for me. It smells cleaner, for one thing,

1/1 · **Mon Oct 25, 2004 5:22 pm**

syd2002 · **Mon Oct 25, 2004 6:06 pm**

........I'm not gonig to get mean here but the was prob the stupidist thing I've herd in a long time in this fourm. I'm not bashing or flaming, so dont get all hyped up about it.

So what your saying, is if you walked into a room whitch was full of second hand smoke you would call it a pub?

I think what makes a pub a pub is the whole atmosphere of people drinking and having friendly discussions, not by the way it smells bad and gives you second-hand smoke.

Superman · Fleet Admiral Joined: 06 Dec 2003 Posts: 10220

As someone who has never smoked, I have to say that I don't like the smell of cigarette or cigar smoke. It is one of the reasons why I rarely go to the pub.

When I did go to a non-smoking pub once, I enjoyed it.

I go to the pub for one reason, to enjoy myself. Away from the office, away from any stress, just me and my friends/colleagues/women, talking about life, movies, music, sex, anything else. It's a place to escape the office and escape stress.

I don't even have to have an alcoholic drink. Sometimes, I'm happy to have a Diet Coke or Orange Juice. I go for the experience.

But I often decline when people ask me to go, because I hate the smell of smoke. If smoking were banned in pubs (or if they set up smoking and non-smoking areas), I would be more happy to go. And I often wonder whether there are other non-smokers who share the views I have just expressed.

1/1 · **Mon Oct 25, 2004 6:20 pm**

Puck · The Texan Joined: 05 Jan 2004 Posts: 5596

I think that for personal businesses (example: club, bar, pub, restaurant, etc....) it is the right of the business to decide whether they want to allow smoking or not. As for public areas such as a park, town square, etc... it should be banned.

Birdy · Socialist Joined: 20 Sep 2004 Posts: 13502 Location: Here.

Jeremy · **Tue Oct 26, 2004 1:13 pm**

janeway9 · **Wed Oct 27, 2004 10:03 am**

No I don't think so. I believe that if a person is a smoker they have every right to smoke where they please. Yes they should have respect for the non-smokers but the non-smokers should also have respect for them. It is every persons right to do what they please and if someone wishes to smoke in public then thats their right...no one should be able to take that b/c once they take that whose to say they won't start taking a person right to Speak in public or to Drink or to eat or to do what ever someone might do in public just b/c it bothers someone else.

As for the Cancer issue...There are millions of things that cause and Smoking is not the MAIN issue with it. Things you eat and drink can cause cancer just as easy as smoking can. There is also VERY little understanding of Cancer and what all can cause it.