General Chat

Would someone mind pointing out to the do-gooders that their (and our) taxes will go sky high to make-up the short fall for lost tobacco tax. I support free choice in England especially in private clubs - another nail in our nation’s coffin. As we approach a third world war will the goverment re-introuduce cigs.to /service personel as they did during the first and second world wars, calm nerves and hunger pangs being a first priority ? And I don't hold out much hope for the bacon butty unless it's unsmoked Lilxx

I wish I could offer tips on stopping smoking but apart from a little teeny-weeny dabble as a teenager I have never smoked. I know though from my dad who smoked up to sixty a day how hard it is to give up. He just turned around one day and vowed never to smoke again, and he didn't. That was over thrity years ago! I take my hat off to anybody who is trying to pack in smoking. At the end of the day, if this smoking ban reduces the amount of cigarettes people smoke a day that can only be a good thing for them, the health benefits especially along with the financial benefits are worthy of consideration. Good luck to anybody trying to give up. Lyn x

hi lyn and all im a smoker but dont smoke in front of hubby or children, always go outside? tried stopping many times but no joy. i dont mind the ban at all, bout time too , i hate smoke in my face at anytime and cannot stand the smell on my cloths after a night out. and this from a smoker. ps any tips on how to give up welcome. dawn x

what little they may lose in trade will probably be recouped in a reduced cleaning bill

Mrs. P. I knew what you meant. Lol. You are right though, the 2 deffo go together. I think you,ll find though, that in the UK, most pubs and resturaunts will do like they did here and erect some kind of 'out-door' area where you can sit and enjoy your coffee and 'fag'.

Valley...i only smoke in the morning with a coffee... and when i have a glass of vino......so most of the week i only have the morning cig!!..............BUT... going to the pub....or a resturant...and not smoking well..i just can't imagine it..xxxx sorry carol just struck me what it ment in the states....lolxxx my friend lives in LA and he giggles when i say it!!xxxxx

But the pleasure is in the coffee and the fag!!! togetherXXXlolxxx (i mean ciggie..lol..)

Mrs. Presley, I LOVED my coffee and a ciggie but honestly, it didn,t take me long to either go outside for a quick puff while i waited for the coffee to be served or, skip the coffee and have a smoke on the drive home......or 2 or 3. Lol

As an ex pipe smoker of 3 years I think smoking should be banned in any enclosed spaces or where people eat. I always used to go outside when I wanted to smoke, both at home and away from the home. As much as I liked to have a smoke i did understand that lots of people (smokers included) did NOT like to share in my habit. We went to Ireland on holiday for the last 2 years and it was absolute joy to be able to go into Pubs wihout the stink of tobacco smoke. Gerry :-))

When we were over in Dublin, we were told that smoking HAD affected trade - not in the city centre where people tend to have a quick one on the way home, or visit several bars, but in the suburbs, where many of the local now buy cans and often congregate in each others houses. I was surprised, because all we hear from the government here is that it is successful and has had no downside on trade at all. My village local has 2 distinct rooms - the dining room/lounge with no smoking, and the bar where you can have exactly the same food. What is bothering me is if the pub will dispense with its fag machine!! Only place in the village where you can buy fags. 5 mile trip each way to the nearest shop and we often get cut off if it snows, so will have to bulk buy at the supermarket. Jay

Carol...as a smoker do you not enjoy your coffee and a cig??

We have had the smoking ban here in the States for a long time...EXCEPT in states that produce tobacco! Isn,.t that ironic. Lol. I,m a smoker but I must say how nice it is to go out for an evening and not have to wait hours for a table.....while somebody has that 'after-dinner' ciggie....or 10. Pubs and bars here soon saw a return of their regular customers and I feel sure, so will the ones in the UK.

we have had a complete smoking ban in public places NZ for yonks and it is wonderful. it hasnt resulted in a reduction of business for anyone in fact many bars and cafes have found they are now doing a roaring trade. Sure there was the odd grumble but that soon faded it is great also to be able to take children to rugby or golf on occassion without having to worry about them getting a ciggy in the face by some smoker who has it dangling down by there sides,not to mention no holes in your clothes from the mobile smokers. It is also be a huge relief for those non smokers who make their living serving in restaurants and bars. Regards Tania PS the only place they have been slow to enforce is the RSA

LLC...in london i reckon they will lose so much trade.... i for one would not go to the pub if i couldn't have a fag!! *all london pubs cry YAAAAYYYYYYYY*

we went on holiday to Scotland last summer where the ban is already in force. It made such a big difference to the night club we went to. It was so much cleaner. But I must also say that there was not so many people in there either so there takings must have been down. Usually it is difficult to find a table but each night we had a choice of where to sit.

To be honest Lyn........... i avoid resturants that are no smoking...i associte finishing my meal with a cig....i understand why this has to be done...but and a big but!!!! to ban smoking in pubs.....well...i can't believe they can't have a section...at least for the old boys that have been going years... but heyho...maybe i'll give up!!! GO ON ALL JUMP ON ME...LOLXXX

I seem to recall that my youngest (20 yrs) buggy could face either way and I most certainly had it so that she was facing me. Interraction with little ones is soooo important and safeguarding them from the nasty exhaust fumes paramount. At the end of the day, it appears that none of us are happy with inhaling fumes whether from car exhausts or other people's exhaled cigarette smoke. So, I welcome the ban on smoking in public places and would welcome research into the effects of exhaust fumes on young children. My eldest daughter who lives in Ireland was telling me that taxi drivers of privately owned vehicles are not allowed to smoke in their cars even though they are the personal owners of them whether they have passengers or not. I think it is long overdue a smoking ban. Hugs to all, Lyn x

Teresa, as I did childminding for a long time too, I have had strong feelings about this for years, and did see someone famous mention the same thoughts once, but can't recall who it was, someone 'royalish' I think. Could be an interesting subject to use. I wonder whether the forward facing thing was necessary due to the technicalities of the design of a buggy or a choice? Liz

Errol, you little tinker!!! Having worked years ago in bars and clubs, I used to hate having to come home tired and needing to shower and wash my hair to avoid my bed smelling like an ashtray, and of course the same goes for socialising, so I am happy for there to be a ban. Even walking through a crowded shopping area, people smoke and their smoke blows back so you end up swallowing it, how horrible. Having seen my father die from lung cancer, I can't wait for the ban to happen and if fewer youngsters are able to get ciggies too, then hopefully our air might become more pleasant to breathe. As for buggies and babies, I have long felt that the invention of buggies was a step backwards in the development of our children and possibly something to do with the number of children with ADHD. You see so many of them open to all the elements, including pollution from exhaust fumes, and whereas when mothers had them in prams or 'proper' pushchairs facing them, they shielded the wind and sun a bit, and could talk with the children, now the kiddies sit isolated in their own little world and many mothers walk along talking with friends or partners, or with headphones on listening to music, with little or no interaction with the child to stimulate its interest in its surroundings or strengthen that bond with parent/child conversation. I made sure I only used a buggy for short walks when I couldn't take the pram or higher more enclosed pushchair (and I am only talking 24 years ago). Liz Would love to see further research into the buggy theory.

My understanding is that there will be a ban in all public places in England from July 1st this year. It is interesting that Westminster is (of course) exempt because (I think) of its standing as a royal palace. More importantly, what will happen to all those companies manufacturing pub ashtrays? Perhaps now is the time to visit pubs wearing coats with poachers' pockets and consider opening an ebay account (not that I am condoning theft of course).