Protest and survive

Trudie writes: Could Forest not organsise a boycott by smokers of all pubs, clubs etc when the ban comes in, to see how businesses fare when we are all sat at home counting the piles of money we've saved by not going to the pub? Perhaps with the collapse of this part of the economy,the government would have to rethink their ban. After all, it worked in Florida when businesses went to the wall through having no customers. They reversed their policy so it now suits everyone, smoker and non smoker alike. We need people power on mass. Action not words.

You ain't seen nothing yet

Anon writes: If you think things are bad now, you should see what they have planned for us next. In perhaps the most extensive smoking ban passed in the United States, Calabasas, a small California town in Los Angeles County, has practically eradicated the right to smoke anywhere within its borders. On February 15, the city council passed a sweeping ban that adds outdoor parks, sidewalks and bus stops to the list of places where smoking is prohibited.

Citing studies from the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the possible dangers of secondhand smoke, the Comprehensive Second-Hand Smoke Control Ordinance, as it's titled, reads that the city council seeks "to provide for the public health, safety, and welfare by discouraging the inherently dangerous behavior of tobacco use near non-tobacco users."

As of March 17, smoking will be outlawed in all public places and places of employment, not unlike many smoking bans passed in numerous towns and cities throughout the country, but in Calabasas, smoking will be allowed only in designated "smoker's outposts" or any outdoor public area in which "no non-smoker is present."

Clubs, lounges, construction sites and even cigars shops are not exempt from the ban. Basically, the only place people will be able to smoke in the company of a non-smoker is in their home or backyard provided they do not run a "child-care" or "health-care" business there.

The health fascists are not going to stop at just a total workplace ban.

Where is the best place to move to?

SW writes: I am currently researching the best place to move to (abroad) to get away from this nanny state! I am looking for somewhere that has a reasonable climate, has English as a first or second language, and values freedom of choice (ie it hasn't got the anti-smoking polices that we have). Any ideas?

Could this ever happen?

Fagsrme writes: Could this happen in the future? Anti smoking male running to catch a tube train at Stockwell with the smoke police in hot pursuit due to suspicion that he may be in possession of cigarettes and intending to smoke them on the tube, being accidentally shot dead? No, they would never shoot an innocent man - would they?

No choice

DJ Jaybee writes: It seems that this government has once again chipped away freedom from the UK by imposing sinister policies that make ordinary intelligent adults feel like they've been sent to stand in the naughty corner with their hands on their heads, then when that's not good enough - sent to get the cane. The fines suggested are far greater than we constantly read in the papers that criminals are getting for much more serious crimes.

Smokers may feel that the current legislation is bad enough, but this is no doubt not going to stop the anti-smoking parade - as they will continue until we're banned from smoking in our own homes too. With people not being able to go to their pub or club to smoke, they will cry about the risk from passive smoking whether you've got children/cat/parrot/goldfish or not. This policy, where a landlord can't choose to run a pub with staff that want to smoke and customers that want to too, just shows how this whole clamp down is going to progress.

Smokers may not be aware, or care - but this government also banned legitimate businesses from selling fresh psilocybe mushrooms in the UK (2005-07-22) - yet another instance of a 'nanny state' view that adults aren't big enough to decide for themselves. Pharmaceutical companies can sell synthetic, far more powerful and dangerous drugs, with numerous side effects and minimal testing, but something that has been taken for thousands of years and grows naturally is banned.

Maybe it's too mind expanding, and maybe pubs at the moment are too. Maybe the government would like the pub infrastructure to crumble because it's a place where people can talk about what's going on - and the smokers corner anywhere is a place where gossip and debate occurs.

People are still going to smoke whether it's banned or not, it just makes you a criminal. People from all walks of life still smoke cannabis, take cocaine, ecstasy etc but they are breaking the law, if things are legal and regulated at least people know what they are getting. When anything is made illegal and pushed underground then who knows what's actually in it until people take it? A pack of what appears to be Marlboro lights bought from a stranger could contain asbestos - but that won't stop some people buying it.

Anything taken in excess it obviously bad, whether it's smoking, drinking, drug abuse, or eating carrots. People should be informed about this instead and helped if they have a problem but should be free to make choices. I doubt that Tolkien would have developed the books he did if he had been constantly fined for smoking his pipe at the literary meetings down at the pub.

Threat to jobs

Lin writes: This is the first time I've logged on to this site and boy what an eyeopener it has been. The nasty comments from the 'non smokers' are beyond belief, very infantile (Voice of the anti-smoker)! Don't you all realise who the biggest losers are going to be? Those who lose their jobs because the breweries profits go down.

I work in the industry and we had a total ban brought into force a couple of years ago. Our income went down by £24,000 in the first 12 months and has been steadily declining ever since, so much so that we will be closing our bar very soon with the loss of jobs.

I am a smoker and like many have always been considerate of non smokers. I only wish that this had been reciprocated. I don't wish to inflict my 'fumes' on anyone. All I ask is an area in which I can indulge and that the 'anti smokers' KEEP OUT! Is that too much to ask?

Something's rotten in the state of Britain

Anon writes: With hindsight it is obvious that all bars, pubs and restaurants should have made sure their ventilation was adequate when this ban-smoking hysteria erupted. Then the government would have a weak case. Now it's a lost battle.

But the tactics we have seen from the anti smoke propaganda machine has been astounding. Everyone knows that when you have a bar/pub/restaurant with a non-smoking section the smoking section is about three times as crowded. Why? And if it were true that so many guests wanted smoke free environments, wouldn't most B/P/R-owners voluntarily make their establishments smoke-free? It would seem like good business.

Something's rotten in the state of this matter, and I wouldn't be surprised if we'll see new and glorious attemts to limit other rights and freedoms. Every day you can read about some new law being passed to prevent people from doing something. The health fascists are taking over! It seems anything that can be excused by referring to a health scare will pass without question. Sooner or later they'll ban alcohol so that everyone stays at home watching government propaganda on TV.

Voice of the anti-smoker

KB writes: I have nothing against you smoking. In fact you can smoke as much as you like.
Many of us probably also share the social atmosphere of a pub. The atmosphere of a pub that I don't enjoy is the one that: (a) sends me home with a sore throat (b) then makes me have to put all of my clothes straight into the wash. Surely I have human rights too?

Also, why is the ban seen to be so disastrous? In all other countries, including Italy even, it seems to have been a success. Smokers are still smoking. Non-smokers are enjoying smoke free socialising. Go ahead and smoke as much as you want. Just don't do it next to me or I might fart (or is that antisocial?).

Dunfermline by-election result

James Watson writes: Could it be that the people of Scotland are telling Labour politicians something about their desire not to be bullied and bossed about? It would be interesting to find out what the voters say is their reason for abandoning Labour, rather than what politicians and commentators say!

Treated like criminals

BBW writes: It is totally outrageous to even think about introducing a blanket ban! We are being treated like criminals & it is not on! Do non-smoking drivers realise what their car fumes do? Are they being told they cannot drive their vehicles? No! Mind you, the way things are going it could be that next!

Smoking people do not wish to impose health risks on anybody whatsoever. The real answer is to have separate areas with decent air conditioning. What is so difficult about that? Come on, what century are we living in? There should be choice for both the non smokers & smokers.
We don't smoke on public transport (ie buses, trains, planes) but what is wrong with having a cigarette afterwards in a designated area?

Why hasn't the government ever banned the sale of tobacco if it is so bad? Because they receive an obscene amount of money from smokers through tax, that's why! My local hospital won't even allow us to smoke OUTSIDE now. Can you imagine how stressful that is! This is getting ridiculous!

Implications of giving up

Roger writes: I recently gave up smoking for 4 months. Having been previously healthy I began to feel quite poorly after 3 months and was diagnosed with a suspected heart problem. (As it turned out the consultant could not be sure whether I had a problem or not.)

In relating this story I have now come across three people whose health suffered after giving up smoking. In my case I am back smoking again and feel much better. I have only ever been a moderate smoker and currently smoke a maximum of 10 roll ups per day. I am left wondering whether moderate smoking is actually harmful. I am interested in any research done on the health effects of giving up smoking. Can you point me to any information sources on this issue?