h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm in the position of being a non-smoker with a smoking boyfriend, so I've got my own ideas (as everyone does) about this.

Ban smoking in pubs - No. People /choose/ to go to pubs, knowing that people smoke and drink there. Same for working there. I don't bitch if I go to a pub and come home smelling of smoke, it's just a part of life.

In restaurants - Yes. It's dangerous to smoke around food, and if I'm out having a nice meal, I'd rather not have it tasting of tobacco.

On the street - I'm kind of divided about this. I get irritated by people who ash indiscriminately, not thinking about who's behind them, and who toss their butts everywhere. If people were more considerate about it, then it wouldn't need to be banned, yaddah yaddah.

At the train station - In theory, smoking /is/ banned in Sydney train stations, though the staff do absolutely nothing to uphold this rule. I think if there's an uncovered area, then people should be allowed to smoke there, but not under the covered areas. It's horrible when you're walking down the stairs and get a faceful of someone's smoke because they can't wait thirty seconds until they get out from the covered-in areas.

People might say that I don't have a right to complain, given that I'm involved with a smoker, but the fact of the matter is that he's at least considerate of me when he smokes (ie smoking outside, taking care not to blow smoke directly at me etc.). A lot of smokers aren't so considerate (like the woman who sat right next to me at a nearly empty train station and sparked up, then became very insulted when I asked her politely to move elsewhere).

Re: the damage smoking and drinking do - I agree with whoever (lazy I am, too lazy to look up, sorry ) said that at least people don't blow ale up your nose with a straw.

You say "Ban smoking in pubs - No. People /choose/ to go to pubs, knowing that people smoke and drink there. "

Well, you could say that about restaurants too. And a few years ago you could have said it about offices, trains, buses, cinemas, hospitals, creches...in fact just about anywhere.

The village I live in only has one pub, and in 4 years I've only been in twice. Why? Because of the smoke. I like a pint, but I hate coming home stinking like an ashtray and having to wash all my clothes even if they were clean on before I went out.

Ban smoking in pubs? Yes please.

But people don't take their children to pubs, and smoking and drinking are often linked in people's psyches. To ban smoking in pubs will mean it will drive out a /lot/ of their clientele. Open container laws in many places mean that you can't take your drink out with you when you go out for a smoke, and so most smokers (which is a very high percentage of the pub-going public) would just not go should smoking be banned.

The other alternative is to have a licence for smoking in some pubs, in which case you'll find that most would probably buy the licence anyway to keep people going there and hence not change a thing.

When I say that I do think Smoking should be banned in public places, I tend to think of public places as parks, footpaths, train stations, all that. I wouldn't think that a smoking ban for businesses should be enforced, but I'm thinking here as someone living in a big city (Well, Sydney is big enough...) so merely not patronising places that allow smoking is a viable option for me.

Still, I'd have to disagree about not disallowing people to smoke in uncovered public places. I tend to have a coughing fit (Probably mostly psychosomatic...) whenever I'm within a metre of a smoker, cover or no cover, so nothing annoys me more than brushing past a smoker walking down the street, or being trapped with one at a bus stop.

Most bars here are no smoking.
I also think they could license some for smoking.
Just like alcohol needs a license here.
Most places would remain non-smoking here without a doubt but not all would not have too.
Some towns are totally non-smoking.

I think they could allow for a smoking section at the outdoor sport arenas. One with seats. As it stands now you can squeeze in around the trash area.

I also think the airports might be well served by allowing smoking in a lounge-outdoor area. Some do but most do not. Particuarly when delayed or having long lay overs it could reduce some stress!

It was a terrible idea to have smoking outside the door ways of some buidings. They now have a wide distance outside hospitals and others that is smoke free so you do not have to wade through smoke to get in the door. I think a clear partition on a patio area seems to work best where possible.

I know it is not just the smoke but for some allergic-asthmatics the odors left on clothes, hair of a smoker can be enough to disturb another person. The same for perfumes as smokers cover-ups or a lone.

Many pubs are just open-plan ashtrays and I haven't been in one for years because of that. Given the choice between choking all evening, then having to put all my clothes in the wash and have a shower when I get home, or staying away, I'll stay away thank you.

Most people in the UK don't smoke, so I am sure that many would use non-smoking pubs and bars, but I haven't heard of any breweries targeting the smoke-free market. That is of course a different proposition to banning smoking in existing pubs.

I don't get the point of pubs anyway. For me it's quite a deathly dull and HORRIBLE night out to sit in an ugly 'olde country kitchen' chintzy type building (those bloody brass wall-lights above the Monet prints, as well) with lots of smoke, Status Quo on the jukebox and a dodgy-tasting pint. Much better to go to a gig or at the least a slightly more expensive *bar* which has comfy leather seating and less objectionable music. Erm, but I digress...

"Ban smoking in pubs - No. People /choose/ to go to pubs, knowing that people smoke and drink there. "

Yes this is true. However i think you just missed the reason behind people going to the pub. Why do people go to pubs? To drink alcohol of course and socialise, not to smoke ("I only smoke when others smoke, it's a social thing" is about as lame an excuse as "i'm a vegetarian but i still eat chicken" Question is, is smoking anti-social?). As you said it's down to consideration, so where's the consideration to non smokers when it comes to public places?

People who choose to drink should also have the choice as to whether or not they want to further their choices of an early death by hanging around areas containing high levels of cigarette smoke.

Remember people, drink in moderation!!!

I enjoy an odd night out at the local pub although I hate alc0hol.I like to meet up with friends and family there.The smell of alcohol makes me sick.What alcohol does to people makes me sicker.Let us smokers enjoy our cigarettes in an alcohol free area.When cars,lorries vans etc are totally banned,then I'll stop smoking.When heavy industry frees us from their pollution,I will stop smoking.I have never heard of a wife being beaten all because a guy smoked too much ,have you ?? If you don't want me to smoke around you ,don't stand in my space.

//I enjoy an odd night out at the local pub although I hate alcohol.I like to meet up with friends and family there.The smell of alcohol makes me sick.What alcohol does to people makes me sicker.//

If the smell of alcohol makes you sick why do you go to places whose sole purpose is to serve alcoholic drinks, why not go to a cafe?

//Let us smokers enjoy our cigarettes in an alcohol free area.//

I take it your home is alcohol free

//When cars,lorries vans etc are totally banned, then I'll stop smoking.//

How about when we've improved their output levels?

//When heavy industry frees us from their pollution, I will stop smoking.//

I hope you don't use any electricity or wear manufactured clothes etc if you're going to complain about industry pollution, it could be better we know that but they are trying

//I have never heard of a wife being beaten all because a guy smoked too much ,have you ?? //

Nom and neither because of the guy drinking in moderation, but they might find themselves in financial difficulty and having the house reposessed. It has already been mentioned in another thread that many smokers come from lower income families, when they work out that they spend more on smoking in a year than they do on their holiday or whatever it can be quite distressing. Especially for the non smoking members of the family. (according to the BBC article and the average prices listed a person who smokes 10 a day spends £839.40 a year on cigarettes multiply that up until you've reached how many you smoke a day and then think about what you're currently saving up for or the debts that you're paying off)

//If you don't want me to smoke around you ,don't stand in my space.//

What do you classify as your space and does it make any difference if I'm there before you walk into it?

Mel