Smoking bans.

[Sput]

YAY, I didn't realise you held me in such high regard, or then again maybe it's not such a good thing. Are you a fan of self mutiliation?

[Ronnie Rowlands]

in a vague attemt to divert everyone's attention from the bootlicking that is currently occuring between Gavin and Sput (:P), what does everyone think of the doctors who refuse to treat patients who smoke?

[Sput]

I've been to places for a night out which already have a ban in place and find it weird waking up without my clothes smelling so much..

All the no-smoking pubs I've been to just stink of booze and sweat now ... not sure which is worse!!

psst! Check your pits! I think that might be you!

[all new Phil]

I think what irritates me the most about the whole smoking ban thing is that it is a blanket ban, with no exceptions being allowed. I don't see why a pub can't choose to be a smoking pub should they wish. For example, I go to a pub nearby every Tuesday night for the quiz they do. I'd say that about 80% of the people there smoke, including everyone in my team. I think it's pretty unacceptable that, in a few month's time, everyone will have to go outside to smoke, against the wishes of the pub owners and everybody in the pub, just because some snooty Londoners say so.

One can't help but wonder if the treasury has budgeted for the shortfall in tax that is inevitable as a result of this.

[Jamez]

One can't help but wonder if the treasury has budgeted for the shortfall in tax that is inevitable as a result of this.

Don't worry, Phil. Labour have a tried and tested solution.

It's called increasing tobacco tax.

[Spencer For Hire]

I think what irritates me the most about the whole smoking ban thing is that it is a blanket ban, with no exceptions being allowed. I don't see why a pub can't choose to be a smoking pub should they wish. For example, I go to a pub nearby every Tuesday night for the quiz they do. I'd say that about 80% of the people there smoke, including everyone in my team. I think it's pretty unacceptable that, in a few month's time, everyone will have to go outside to smoke, against the wishes of the pub owners and everybody in the pub, just because some snooty Londoners say so.

So how would a ban *with* exceptions work? "Smoking is banned in all pubs, excpet those which allow it."

Interestingly I was out in town last Thursday evening, and everywhere was pretty much dead, except for the town's only non-smoking pub which was full, and always does a roaring trade.

Yes, currently many pubs are full of smokers, because the non-smoking majority is put off going there.

[TG]

Agreed - I currently go out perhaps three times a month, because I hate having to wash every garment I go out in, just cos it reeks of smoke.

I'm looking forward to being able to go out and not come home smelling like an ashtray.

That, I have to say though, is all that bothers me about smoking in public - I've never particularly been bothered by the possibility of inhaling or whatever, despite being a life-long non-smoker. It's purely the vile smell it leaves on me.

[james2001]

So how would a ban *with* exceptions work? "Smoking is banned in all pubs, excpet those which allow it."

Well, as we know, they were going to allow smoking in "licences premises that serve food and members clubs", but arguments over what the exact definition of "food", the large number of places that would have been exempt (it wouldn't just have been pubs and bars, but places like nightclubs as well), plus the large amount of landlords saying they would stop serving food or become members only meant that it would have taken away much of the impact & point of the ban in the first place- and was voted out in parliament. I seem to remember reading they'd estimated around 85% of pubs in Leeds would have been exempt from a ban if the exemptions had gone ahead.

[Gavin Scott]

So how would a ban *with* exceptions work? "Smoking is banned in all pubs, excpet those which allow it."

"No Smoking Allowed"

"Smoking Allowed Throughout"

"Smoking in Designated Areas Only".

It's not that complicated.

[james2001]

Isn't that what we have now though? Walk down any street and you'll see stickers saying what you've writen in the windows of most pubs. Effectivly, you're saying we should keep the status quo.

[Spencer For Hire]

So how would a ban *with* exceptions work? "Smoking is banned in all pubs, excpet those which allow it."

"No Smoking Allowed"

"Smoking Allowed Throughout"

"Smoking in Designated Areas Only".

It's not that complicated.

And how is that any different to the situation pre-legislation?