England goes smoke-free

[Pinkbanana]

Im not sure quite what you are saying, but every one is entitled to an opinion....I am not jumping on any bandwagon here....I have my own mind and opinion on the subject, thank you.

I have merely been responding to the comments of others, in a discussion forum.

No need for the thank you at the end of that cheers PB. I'm not a child and don't need to be spoken to like one.

I am full aware you are not a child (and likewise I could comment on you putting cheers at the end of your sentence). I was just taken a back, by your comment, and actually rather offended, that people (included me) have jumped on (to quote you) 'a bandwagon' for sharing the same opinions. I felt that was an insulting and unfair comment.

General remark now: the question of this poll was, do you think the smoking ban is a good or bad thing - SarahW gave her opinion, in the thread, that she thought it was a bad thing. I was merely commenting on the fact that at the time of posting this, 5 people (not including myself as I have still absteined from voting) have voted its a bad thing, yet only Sarah had given her reasons why. And following on from that, a few members (and I'm not mentioning names, having a go at anyone, infringing on peoples human rights to reply or anything else here, so this post is not to be taken as such) have quoted every reply, thanked each others posts etc and yes that is allowed, but for me, to read these responses and comments, read it like bullying. People don't agree - thats fair enough, we are ALL human, we ALL have our opinions on things, as I've previously said, if we all think the same, life would be very very boring, but at the same time, aren't we allowed to respect each others opinions also?

I would like to know in what way I was not respecting another poster's comments that I disagreed with. I cant see in any of my posts were I was being disrepectful TBH. I have been responding on this thread to other people's comments, and conversely other people were commenting on mine. Thus as far as Im aware engaging in a lively 'debate' and not bullying anyone (I take offence at the word 'bullying' being used in this instance).

Moreover, I did after a while on realising that we were starting to go round in circles withdraw from the debate. As I have said earlier on this thread pertaining to smoking, I believe people have free will and can do whatever they want as long as it doesnt adversely impact on others.

[alan45]

Good news for all you smokers

Council error stubs out smoke ban

Dax Robateau put up "Welcome to Smoke-on-Trent" posters
People are still lighting up in Stoke-on-Trent's pubs after a bureaucratic mistake over the ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces.
On-the-spot fines cannot yet be issued to smokers flouting the 1 July ban because of "late changes in technical bits of legislation", the council said.

Landlord Dax Robateau has put cheeky "Welcome to Smoke-on-Trent" posters in The Smithfield pub in Hanley

The authority said it would be able to issue fines from 16 July.

It said it was still able to take action against pubs or clubs where people were smoking and would be able to take retrospective action against any smokers caught flouting the ban.

'Bit miffed'

A spokesman said: "People are obliged to comply with a speeding restriction, regardless if there's a police speed gun nearby.

"The whole government advice and council advice is to advise and educate people in the early days.

"(But) they can still be reported and action can still be taken against them."


Pam Rowland is still enforcing the smoking ban in the Greyhound Inn

Mr Robateau said: "I found out about the loophole when it was in the local paper yesterday and I was just a bit miffed.

"I checked it out and found out it was true so I thought we might as well tell people that the law wasn't enforceable."

But one publican said she did not believe the council would implement the ban retrospectively.

Pam Rowland, landlady of the Greyhound Inn, in Penkhull, said: "It's sort of fun to flout the law and I don't think the council will do much about it because at the end of the day it's their mistake."

She added that she was still enforcing the ban and that most pubs were doing the same thing.

"I think most people are actually sticking with it. It could only happen in Stoke."

The council said the mistake was due to its belief that the city's elected mayor Mark Meredith had the power to delegate the authorisation of the ban to his director of community services.

It said late legal changes meant it realised too late that it would have to be enforced by the licensing and consumer protection committee instead.

It said the committee would delegate powers for officers to issue on-the-spot fines at a meeting on Monday.


So there you go - Enjoy

[Abigail]

From what I've seen the ban has been successful around my area. I saw some hairdressers taking a fag break away from the shop (which they left open and unattended) today but apart from that I've not seen anybody smoking around town.

All of the local pubs bar one have seen a huge surge in customers and meals since the ban which is excellent for the local economy. In Weatherspoons they took £1000 more than they usually do just on the first day of the ban. Thats a heck of a lot of money for the small town I live in

[Richie_lecturer]

Good news for all you smokers

Council error stubs out smoke ban

Dax Robateau put up "Welcome to Smoke-on-Trent" posters
People are still lighting up in Stoke-on-Trent's pubs after a bureaucratic mistake over the ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces.
On-the-spot fines cannot yet be issued to smokers flouting the 1 July ban because of "late changes in technical bits of legislation", the council said.

Landlord Dax Robateau has put cheeky "Welcome to Smoke-on-Trent" posters in The Smithfield pub in Hanley

The authority said it would be able to issue fines from 16 July.

It said it was still able to take action against pubs or clubs where people were smoking and would be able to take retrospective action against any smokers caught flouting the ban.

'Bit miffed'

A spokesman said: "People are obliged to comply with a speeding restriction, regardless if there's a police speed gun nearby.

"The whole government advice and council advice is to advise and educate people in the early days.

"(But) they can still be reported and action can still be taken against them."


Pam Rowland is still enforcing the smoking ban in the Greyhound Inn

Mr Robateau said: "I found out about the loophole when it was in the local paper yesterday and I was just a bit miffed.

"I checked it out and found out it was true so I thought we might as well tell people that the law wasn't enforceable."

But one publican said she did not believe the council would implement the ban retrospectively.

Pam Rowland, landlady of the Greyhound Inn, in Penkhull, said: "It's sort of fun to flout the law and I don't think the council will do much about it because at the end of the day it's their mistake."

She added that she was still enforcing the ban and that most pubs were doing the same thing.

"I think most people are actually sticking with it. It could only happen in Stoke."

The council said the mistake was due to its belief that the city's elected mayor Mark Meredith had the power to delegate the authorisation of the ban to his director of community services.

It said late legal changes meant it realised too late that it would have to be enforced by the licensing and consumer protection committee instead.

It said the committee would delegate powers for officers to issue on-the-spot fines at a meeting on Monday.


So there you go - Enjoy

Just shows the land of Stoke has gone to pot, or should that be pottery?

[Siobhan]

Good, and this comes from a smoker. Its made me think about quitting and i've cut down already. But overall I don't think it will work. I can see people in clubs sneaking off for one somewhere, I think it will all fall through to be honest..

chris.. I thought the same too when smoke ban came here nearly 3 years ago now but we have kept it working well here and as a smoker I am fully in favour of it all.. I found it really hard to sit in a pub in germany cause it was so smokey and I ended up going outside most of the time. I welcome smoking ban everywhere.. it is much better drinking enviornment and you get to met loads of new people when you nip out for one

[Kim]

I think the ban is a good idea, as it seems unfair to make those that are choosing not to smoke find somewhere else to go so as to not breath in smoke, because it is the smoker's choice to smoke.

[Trinity]

I am just back from a fortnight in France - it seems that (almost) everryone smokes there!

From smoke free Scotland to fuggy France was quite a culture shock!

I really appreciate the lack of smoking in Scottish pubs resturants and sports arenas etc even more.

I couldn't beleive the number of people smoking underneath the wooden rollarcoaster at Parc Astrix - there were signs up but there were universally ignored.

[Siobhan]

I heard something on the news this morning that totally shocked me.. some guy was shot in the face for telling people in a night club in London that they can't smoke anymore.
it is all here: http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/...276684,00.html

I was totally shocked that this happened

[DaVeyWaVey]

Absolutely disgusting!! Who would do such a thing like that?! I hope he recovers and those men are caught.

[Abigail]

Adults should be banned from smoking in cars when children are passengers, the new head of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8104062.stm


Thoughts?

I personally think this is taking the smoking ban one step too far. How would this even be enforced? Flashing blue lights when the cops see you drive by with a fag in one hand and a kid in the back?