Scotland Bans Public Smoking!

Scotland became the first part of Britain which baned on Sunday smoking in pubs, restaurants, cafes and workplaces. Officials hope that this action will lead to a decrease in the number of people dying from passive smoking, currently 1,000 a year in Scotland.

A recent survey also shows worrying figures, namely that about 30% Scots smoke and have lower life expectancy. This action is part of a bigger set of measures designed to change the label Europe has put on Scotland: "sick man of Europe" and want to put an end to heavy drinking and smoking, poor diet and the lack of exercise. The first

day passed without incidents; individual smokers complained but they decided to make the best of this new law.

Scotland’s new anti-smoking officers inspected pubs in order to see if the law is respected; for now, they settled for giving advice, rather than a £50 fine. Jack McConnell, the First Minister, said he expects resistance, although the ban was necessary to reduce deaths from cancer, heart disease and strokes.

"I think we’ve got to be realistic about this. There are going to be people who will be inconvenienced by the ban. But I also believe Scotland is a law-abiding country," he added. The ban was inspired by Ireland, which, in 2004, became the first country to impose it.

England, Wales and Northern Ireland are also expected to impose similar bans next year. Those who oppose the ban have described the evidence about passive smoking dubious and said this measure attacks individual freedom and the customs of the working class, that of drinking of smoking.

 

Smoking should be banned in ALL public places.

BS! Smokers blowing their disgusting smoke all over strangers is an attack on individual freedoms!

I like to stand directly in front of smokers and rip off a few farts. "How does it feel?"

 

I'm with you on this one CR. We got it banned in public buildings and it's so nice to be able to go out an evening and come home w/o smelling like hell.

 

I'm voting for fresh air, too!

 

**Cleansing image of Shannon farting in someones face**

This was the best thing to happen in Ireland in so many ways...It used to be I would go to a really expensive restaurant and have to endure someone blowing smoke naer the table (and ruining the taste), which is now gone.

Even the smokers don't seem to mind it here and business in all the pubs has actually improved!

 

I find non smokers amazing stupid in the fact that they will stand in the smoke and bitch rather then run for the hills if their life is really in danger.

Sign me,
Not buying the bullshit.

 

I just hope this law comes to Portugal really quick, i'm tired of others smoke

 

LMAO....

Smoking is banned in India as well on public places such as Bus Stations, Train stations, airports, malls etc, but people over here dont care about that law, and even govt and police officials are not strict about that as well.

 

Yes, I'm for Forbidding the smoking!

 

To improve your breathing?

Ok, then we need to stop burning coal for electricity. Turn off your lights and computer please.

We need to ban combustion engines too. Please park your car and turn it off. Please stop shopping, the big trucks that deliver your food burn diesel and the fumes can kill you.

Shall I go on as to how stupid the reasoning these laws assert are?

I can live with not smoking wile you eat. I can live with no smoking in the library and hospital. But when you stop smoking in bars, there is only one reason. A religious influenced sin tax. It has nothing to do with your health.

You can choose to not go to that bar and find a non-smoking bar. But making smoking bars illegal is pure bullshit. Unless of course you want to do the things above and prove you are truely concerned with your lungs?

I bet ya won't though.

So here we are again, the sheep accepting a law that limits freedom in the name of safety. What kind of weak minds are falling for this tactic to strip your freedoms? Do you not think there is something you do that can be attacked too that this tactic will eventually get around to and elimiate from your life? Think about it!

 

im in a state of flux on this one.

This is my 3rd day of non smoking. I am more than a little grouchy tbh.

I did go to the pub today and it was a non-smoking pub (i still needed a cig like ***k though!!) if people were smoking in there it woulda killed me.

On the other hand, it didn't seem like a pub anymore. It seemed like a restaurant! The smokiness gives a real "pub atmosphere" i think.

Anyway - wish me luck on the not smoking thing. It is VERY difficult (luckily my gf is also giving up so hopefully ill go a bit further than the "week of giving up" I managed last time.

See ya
Notting

 

Now that is what I'm talking about. Good for you trying a non-smoking pub rather then cramping someones style by complining they are smoking in another pub that may allow smoking.

Good luck kicking.

 

Ban in all UK closed spaces as of next summer. Part from whether or not this ban is right or wrong how effectively do you think it will be enforced?

Notting

 

Agreed! It's disgusting...end of story! I hate having to go home and take a shower after I've been at bars just so that I don't stink up my bed and furniture.

It also dries out my contacts and that's pretty annoying.

I don't fault smokers personally- It's not their fault they were born weak-minded.

Hopefully within the next few years every city will have public smoking bans. I think it's inevitable. So if you don't like it... MOVE TO RUSSIA!

 

Aye, I just gave up smoking at the end of February as well Good timing.

 

Well, most bars here have proved it's cheaper to pay smoking fines, if they are restricted, then stop smoking and do.

My biggest problem with this whole movement is that fear of safety is being used to promote it's agenda. I say if you buy this false assertion, then you have to buy the fact that cars and power plants are bad too and stop using those services. To not recognize all things that affect your breating as a problem is hypocritcal, selective and thus too subjective to be a law. Have you ever ridden or been next to a diesel powered bus? Not a pleasant place to be. I'll take the smokey pub over that any day!

Stop being sheep and following the fear mongers!

 

What is weak minded is that after you had to clean the filthyness off once, you apparently went back again. Go figure!?

 

Yeah, and murder is worse than rape. So should rape be legal?

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.

 

I have been smoking for 8 years, when i am drinking i feel a stronger urge to smoke (and that is definetely the case with almost all smokers). I dont think banning smoking in bars is a good idea.

I agree it should be banned elsewhere.

Although, its not a poblem where i am living.

Anyways, Bars have smoking and non-smoking sections, people could always opt for non smoking section if they have problem with smoke.