Today: Smoking Ban in England

[Boggy1 45]

Now the whole of the British Isles have a smoking ban in effect.

The Republic of Ireland was the first - in fact the first country in the world - to institute a smoking ban in workplaces, banning it on 29th March 2004. This includes bars, restaurants, offices, and public buildings. You can be fined up to $4,100 (€3000, £2100) and have a prison sentance if caught lighting up.

Scotland was the second, banning smoking on 26th March 2006. The ban effected all spaces that are more than 50% inclosed, including phone booths and train and bus shelters.

Wales followed next, banning it on April 2nd 2007. Again, all indoor public places are barred from smoking.

Northern Ireland next, with a ban in effect since 30th April 2007. It is illegal to smoke in all enclosed workspaces, including phone booths and train and bus shelters. The fine is up to $100 (€70, £50).

England has followed last, with a ban in effect as of today (July 1st), and includes all indoor public places. The fine is $100 (€70, £50), with it being decreased to $60 (€45, £30) if payed within 30 days.

There has been much controvery over the bans, but the overwhelming majority has supported it, with over 90% of the population in Northern Ireland in favour of it.

Some businesses such as bars and restaurants have reported a decreasion in customers, but many more are reporting an increase, with young families and couples coming to the new smoke-free buildings.

Personnaly, my father, who hadn't been to a pub in over five years, has started going once a week with friends, the sole reason being that there is no longer any smokers within in.

I very very much agree with the ban. In fact, I wish for tobacoo related products to be banned outright; even in your own home.

Hopefully this ban will lead to a much healthier Britian,

What are your thoughts?

[sims co. 0]

Finally, we can go out and not worry about passive smoking so much! I still wish we could get rid of it all though, bu there is only so much power given to the government. I just hope it isn't as much failure as the mobile phone use whilst driving ban!

[rorym1980 0]

would u like your health or your freedom? i believe many more bans on things are coming and am very worried.

[S1acker 0]

I think it's really good. I'm for an outright ban, costs the NHS billions a year to treat smoking related illnesses, such a waste.

[officer 6]

I support the bans - makes pubs (and other similar places) have a nicer, more welcoming, atmosphere, but I do agree with rorym1980 - what if the government ban other things?

[patriots_1228 51]

any chance this may happen in the US? i being near smokers they smell and i inhale secondhand smoke

[justintime 8]

Originally posted by: patriots_1228 any chance this may happen in the US? i being near smokers they smell and i inhale secondhand smoke quote>

 

They did in Texas.

[Voar Tok 4]

Originally posted by: rorym1980 would u like your health or your freedom? i believe many more bans on things are coming and am very worried.quote>

To some, this is a violation of rights.  To others, this is an enforcement of rights.  Smokers would view this as a ban on their right to light up.  As a non-smoker, this is an enforcement of my right to not have to smoke with you.

This is by no means a novel idea, as I know California has been doing this since 1998, so while it's not the first case of this happening, it is interesting that now it's been done on a national scale.

IMHO, this should be extended to houses where people under the legal age are present.

Boggy: Is this a ban on only enclosed public places, or is it illegal to smoke anywhere in the public?

[Boggy1 45]

Voar Tok: Only enclosed public places, which is a shame. You can smoke in the street, outside buildings, etcetra. Apparently, if an official enters your house - such as a member of the emergancy services or a council member - you must not smoke, as it is illegal.

[Boggy1 45]

Voar Tok: Only enclosed public places, which is a shame. You can smoke in the street, outside buildings, etcetra. Apparently, if an official enters your house - such as a member of the emergancy services or a council member - you must not smoke, as it is illegal.

[patriots_1228 51]

justintime-thats it im moving to texas

[ExiL3 10]

well we have had smoking ban on all public places here in Norway for a few years now. I currently work at a pub, so I am not complaining. I hate the stench of cigarettes!

take care,

[coultharda 135]

Originally posted by: S1acker I think it's really good. I'm for an outright ban, costs the NHS billions a year to treat smoking related illnesses, such a waste.

quote>

Doesn't the government make more than that on the high taxes on cigarettes though?

[JanYpe 17]

Originally posted by: Boggy1 Voar Tok: Only enclosed public places, which is a shame. You can smoke in the street, outside buildings, etcetra. Apparently, if an official enters your house - such as a member of the emergancy services or a council member - you must not smoke, as it is illegal.quote>

It would be a shame if it was banned outdoors, and it would be even worse if it were banned from the privacy of people's own homes.

The outside world belongs to everyone. You have much more to worry about large scale pollution, smog and exhaust gases when you're outside than about the odd puff of tobacco smoke. If it's within normal laws, then what people do inside their own homes is their business, and theirs alone.

A ban on smoking in public places is a good thing, but any legislation that goes beyond public places is invasive, belittling and moralising.

[Cjah 15]

Originally posted by: Voar Tok

IMHO, this should be extended to houses where people under the legal age are present.

quote>

 

not really...I heard the age of legal smoking is 16...but they want to raise it...

like to 18 which is again pretty sad...

I mean what if your a loyal brit,but only 17 u been smoking for about a year and then the age goes up to 18...

You should still be able to smoke...since you were legal age when the law was true...

Anyway as for this banning of indoor smoking..

I think its a damn shame and even tho Brits don't have rights...

Just another step backwards...soon no freedom at all will be tolerated...

[egelder22 0]

To Britain: What took so long?

In New York indoor smoking has been banned for a while, even in NYC. I say, thank god, I hate the smell of cigarettes. It's not about freedom, it's about politeness to others. If you light up, even outside, everyone around has to inhale the smoke and smell it. And if you go to a college like I do, people are smoking everywhere and it sickens me. I say, ban it in all OUTDOOR public places as well. If you want to kill yourself, I don't care but do it where no one has to smell you.

[Zelgadis 638]

I can go along with banning smoking in indoor public places. But I place the limit there.

- Banning smoking outdoors? Worried about breathing somthing bad for you? Then we'll have to ban trucks, cars, motorcycles, factories, hot dog stands... The list goes on. And a passing dump truck will mess up your lungs a lot faster than a little whiff of diluted tobacco smoke. In fact, the outside air in every city has lots of things way more dangerous and worrisome than tobacco. Diesel particulates, smog, ozone, toxic chemicals...  If you'd like to put your energy into something that will really make a difference, lobby for stricter emissions standards on diesel trucks.

- Ontario bans smoking on covered patios. Which is silly enough, but here's the fun part. If you have an umbrella over your table, it's "covered" and you cant smoke. But if the table next to you has no umbrella, it's not covered and you can smoke. Even my mother, (nonsmoker) thinks the whole "covered patio" thing is silly.

- While I agree with indoor public space smoking ban, the way Toronto and Ontario went about it was beyond reprehensible. First, Toronto made a law with the ban, but said that bars and restaurants were allowed to make enclosed, outside-ventilated smoking areas inside their businesses. Many bar owners spent thousands and thousands of dollars retrofitting their businesses. Then Ontario comes along and says no indoor smoking period. So, Ontario has slapped the owners in the face and told them to go flush their $50,000 down the toilet. Right, that's really fair...

Wel, anyhoo, I'm done. I urge moderation, as always. Remember, if you get too wrapped up in something like smoking, you'll miss the things that are way more dangerous! Like the lady I saw one day standing next to an idling diesel box truck with "BAN SMOKING" painted on the side and distributing flyers on the dangers of cigarettes. I reiterate, the truck was still running and she was standing next to the tailpipe! I couldn't help myself. I walked up to her and asked, "Um... Excuse me, but are you stupid?"

ISF

[S1acker 0]

Originally posted by: coultharda

Originally posted by: S1acker I think it's really good. I'm for an outright ban, costs the NHS billions a year to treat smoking related illnesses, such a waste.

quote>

Doesn't the government make more than that on the high taxes on cigarettes though?quote>

Hmm, true, they probably do. I guess this is an even better thing then, shows the government cares more about the health of it's citizens than the amount of cash raised.

[vilbe 6]

Originally posted by: patriots_1228 any chance this may happen in the US? i being near smokers they smell and i inhale secondhand smoke quote>

i thought massecheusettes had a ban? CT, NY, the west coast, chicago most major places have em in the US...

[___idiotbox 0]

I really wish they would do something like this in the US. Even though I am use to smoke it is very irritating. I went to a concert not to long ago and when I got into the bar I swear I couldn't see a thing because of all the smoke. In between bands everyone would start to smoke so my brother and I would start coughing. I would have to run done to the bar and get water.

I would love there to be an outright ban in the US but that will never happen. It will leave hundreds out of jobs. Just think how many people would be angry...

-Ellie

[gshmails 534]

I believe that outright bans are wrong.  An establishment should be allowed to apply for a smoking permit.  I am a smoker and I have stopped going to bars and poolhalls because "my kind" is no longer welcome.  Why can't non-smokers have their places, and smokers have theirs?

If governments want to condemn smoking, then stop the production and sale.  If it is legal to buy, it should be legal to use.  The truth is that smokers do not want to be around complaining non-smokers any more than the non-smokers want us around, but we should still be given the same opportunities to enjoy ourselves without snide remarks and looks.

If we count up the things in our world that can kill us, we would have a very long list.

Just my opinion,

Shmails

[Rymac91 15]

Originally posted by: justintime

Originally posted by: patriots_1228 any chance this may happen in the US? i being near smokers they smell and i inhale secondhand smoke quote>

 

They did in Texas.quote>

Also in Ohio...

[LarksTonguesInAspic 28]

How the authorities never learn! England imposed the death penalty for smoking in the 1500's, there was no shortage of people to hang. The lessons of prohibition seem to fade, and it is attempted anew; when alcohol was banned all it did was make the Kennedys rich, and basically created the american branch of la cosa nostra. Banning tobacco, or alcohol, is outside the government's job description and is proof that it needs to be pruned a bit (politically speaking). I wonder if those who support this are prepared when the next target is their favorite fast food or even their favorite author. Those who have an insatiable need to ban things "for our own good" rarely stop there. It's more about empowering the left than saving lives.

[LarksTonguesInAspic 28]

Another thought, Herr Boggy, about banning tobacco in our homes: that was Hitler's dream. I'll bet you have some vice or idiosyncrasy I would like to ban; trade you! This forum seems to have a penchant for topics that bring out the foolishness in ppl, or the powermadness in a few. Those here from england seem very comfortable with a gov't that likes to ban things. Funny, our constitution says nothing about the need for a gov't to ban things. Another point: The city of Chicago banned grain alcohol. Why? Because they claimed crack addicts were using it to cook "rocks" (crack cocaine). The truth was, a zippo lighter works just as well. A side point; the ban on guns in Chicago and DC were struck down as unconstitutional. Oh Happy Day!

[hamsterTK 93]

You know im with the rights people here. I dont smoke but yeah....

Its one thing to ban smoking in indoor public places. But everywhere?

Its interesting how western society is on one hand becoming much more liberal about certain things.. But then on the other hand more and more people want the government to be able to tell them what they can and cant do to such an extent I wonder if in the distant future we will be any better off than the people who lived in the 1800's?

[egelder22 0]

zelgadis: I don't care about the health hazards of smoke outdoors, I, along with many non-smokers, just hate the smell. Even more than dump trucks and cars.

and to manticorefan: the reason for all the bans is that most people simply cannot be trusted. What does a poor city guy who has never shot anything in his life need a pistol for? And you may think it's alright to smoke in your home, but what about the family with the young child who are forced to inhale those horrible toxic chemicals because of the parent's inability to control their addiction?  Or the guy walking down the street with asthma who has to hold their breath every time he passes someone blowing smoke into the air?  The bans are i place for a reason. Maybe you don't care if you're killing yourself, but it's not fair to try and kill everyone around you.

and btw, second-hand smoke does kill. If you are forced to pass by smokers every time you step outside a building, your doing as much damage to your lungs as they are.

[Cjah 15]

manticorefan

Damn nice job...you know I knew that sounded familar....that Hitler wanted to ban tobacco...I always confused that with Italy for some reason even though Hitler was the health nut....

don't mind Boggy hes allergic to fun...

and btw, second-hand smoke does kill. If you are forced to pass by smokers every time you step outside a building, your doing as much damage to your lungs as they are.quote>

whoever said that is a fool...if you live in Los Angeles or anywhere with smog you already have dirty lungs...not saying people in smoggy areas should smoke its just if you live next to a freeway or a train stick your head out of your window and smell the smog/fumes....nasty and twice as bad for you as anything mother nature can rpoduce...yeah tobacco comes from nature...although its made with 400 other chemicals...

[IDS2 3,344]

cjah: not true! My friend's mum died of lung cancer from secondhand smoke (she never smoked)

I personally think that this smoking ban is a great step towards the rest of the world attempting it too. Whenever I pass a smoker I try to cough and wheeze as much as I can.

[ILL Tonkso 1,236]

Boggy, its in the street too. You cant smoke in the Street. Especially in busy shopping streets and stuff. Thats the case in Portsmouth anyway.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: zelgadis I- While I agree with indoor public space smoking ban, the way Toronto and Ontario went about it was beyond reprehensible. First, Toronto made a law with the ban, but said that bars and restaurants were allowed to make enclosed, outside-ventilated smoking areas inside their businesses. Many bar owners spent thousands and thousands of dollars retrofitting their businesses. Then Ontario comes along and says no indoor smoking period. So, Ontario has slapped the owners in the face and told them to go flush their $50,000 down the toilet. Right, that's really fair...

ISFquote>

 

They did this quite a while ago in Ft worth and dallas

made them have seperate  vent systems for  smoking areas, then a few years later went

and made the total ban. but a lot of places went ahaed and went to the total ban rather then  spend the money for the seperate systems anyway.

These now a ban for smoking outside buildings you must be 50 feet from the doorway.

But  i realy dont see  how enforcement will be handled, some guy lights up in a reasturant after he eats and refuses to put it out when asked. call the cops?  are they going to repsond to  someone smoking?  if so how long til they get there?