A new BBC poll (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3561483.stm) has found that 73% of people want a ban on smoking in all public places. Do you agree?

I agree.

Never smoked, never want to smoke, never will smoke.
It's a killer drug, makes you smell, teeth yellow, fingernails yellow, nackers your voice and is generally bad for you.

Ban it.

Of course I don't agree. I should be up to the individual venue owners if they want to ban it. I have no problem with banning it as a health issue, but I do not respect the government's recent decisions to ban anything slightly bad for you. Open smoking rooms in bars, or ...... blah blah blah (I've said all this before!!!)

Originally posted by DaBouncer
I agree.

Never smoked, never want to smoke, never will smoke.
It's a killer drug, makes you smell, teeth yellow, fingernails yellow, nackers your voice and is generally bad for you.

Ban it.

Saved me the typing.

Yes ban it in all indoor places but outdoors let them continue to kill themselves.

Originally posted by Mo
Yes ban it in all indoor places but outdoors let them continue to kill themselves.

Why ban it indoors? If there was a seperate smoking room, which no non-smokers had to enter, how would it affect you?

Originally posted by Agent Dan
Why ban it indoors? If there was a seperate smoking room, which no non-smokers had to enter, how would it affect you?

As I've said before *yawn* smoke doesn't know that it should stop at the smoking room door. But I agree that a smokers room would be preferable to a non-smokers room.

Originally posted by Mo
As I've said before *yawn* smoke doesn't know that it should stop at the smoking room door. But I agree that a smokers room would be preferable to a non-smokers room.

Haha. The thought of a Smoker's Room just reminded me of the old smoking room at SilverBlades back when I was a kid. Ha, lovely place, that.

I agree with Mo's post above that it should only be banned in indoor public places. I personally would like it to be banned in all places, but I think banning it from the streets is a bit far-fetched.

Originally posted by Agent Dan
Of course I don't agree. I should be up to the individual venue owners if they want to ban it. I have no problem with banning it as a health issue, but I do not respect the government's recent decisions to ban anything slightly bad for you. Open smoking rooms in bars, or ...... blah blah blah (I've said all this before!!!)

"Slightly bad for you"?

Passive smoking alone KILLS 15,000 people per year, and that is not counting those who die from being smokers themselves.

Oh dear, i get the feeling this thread is about to go off again! Have to say, i'd back a public places ban. Even if I dont manage to give up, i'd respect it. Even when I was smoking I generally wouldn't smoke around non smokers, wherever I was.

Yup I agree that smoking should be banned in public places, but I don't think that the government will act until voting figures get up to something like 90-95%.

They'll be scared of losing their precious polls. Bless em! :rolleyes:

Originally posted by jackthedog
I agree with Mo's post above that it should only be banned in indoor public places. I personally would like it to be banned in all places, but I think banning it from the streets is a bit far-fetched.

That wouldn't suit a bloodthirsty* rightwing** anti-smoker like myself.

I want to see it banned altogther; failing that, I'd rather it was banned outdoors than indoors. Again, if people want the 'freedom' for the 'right' to 'choose' to 'enjoy' tobacco, let them do it out of my way, not standing in front of me.


* I was being sarcastic
** I was being very sarcastic

Originally posted by slimsid2000
"Slightly bad for you"?

Passive smoking alone KILLS 15,000 people per year, and that is not counting those who die from being smokers themselves.


Do you have a citation, for that, please?


I am of the opinion that anyone should have the right to do anything they want, as long as it doesn't harm any non-consenting third party. I believe public smoking falls into this category.

As I've said before *yawn* smoke doesn't know that it should stop at the smoking room door. But I agree that a smokers room would be preferable to a non-smokers room.

There's a restaurant near me in Florida (where they imposed a ban in restaurants and bars last year). They were losing so much trade that they've built a small extension, and it's now a "smoking" bar. You go out of one door and in through another to smoke if you want to, and the smoke doesn't waft through. You don't get bothered then by people smoking while you're eating.

Perfect solution in my opinion. And I don't smoke.

Originally posted by MissEllie
There's a restaurant near me in Florida (where they imposed a ban in restaurants and bars last year). They were losing so much trade that they've built a small extension, and it's now a "smoking" bar. You go out of one door and in through another to smoke if you want to, and the smoke doesn't waft through. You don't get bothered then by people smoking while you're eating.

Perfect solution in my opinion. And I don't smoke.

But trade wouldn't be lost if smoking was banned in all bars. Where would the smokers go? They'd have to stay at home I suppose and I can't see that somehow.

I can't say whether trade would or would not be lost in Sheffield if smoking were banned in bars, but if it's as bad as everyone says these days then surely it would have an effect?

When I've been to our "local" recently, it ain't what it used to be, even I've noticed that. Some people DO stay home, preferring to buy some beer, barbecue some chicken and have some friends round. I met some British tourists the other week who were asking us about smoking in bars, and they weren't going to the pubs anymore because of it. Lost trade is a BIG deal here, since the whole economy revolves around tourism, hence the aforementioned "smoking bar" extension. Maybe the pubs in Sheffield can stand to lose that trade.

Surely you can have no objection to a room exclusively for smokers? I certainly don't, if they wanna go in there and smoke themselves to death, who am I to argue? Like I said, I don't smoke, and I don't have to breathe it in either. I'm all for compromise.:thumbsup:

Well funnily enough, the Sheffield Forum poll after 19 votes is 73% in favour of a ban! That is spookily identical to the BBC poll! I think the writing is on the wall for smokers in public.

Originally posted by Call_Me_Sue
Do you have a citation, for that, please?


I am of the opinion that anyone should have the right to do anything they want, as long as it doesn't harm any non-consenting third party. I believe public smoking falls into this category.

What catagory? You can't seriously suggest that public smoking doesn't hurt non-smokers.

The category of "harms third parties". Do you have anything to back up your 15,000 people a year claim?

Originally posted by Call_Me_Sue
The category of "harms third parties". Do you have anything to back up your 15,000 people a year claim?

I'm not quite sure if you are saying smoking in public does or doesn't harm third parties.

As for the 15,000 deaths per year from passive smoking it is not my claim but that of respected organisations like ASH. I think there is information about it on their website.

I believe passive smoking is harmful. I also do not see why I should have the burden of proof of your claim.