NEWS: Scottish Parliament to Smokers: Fuck Off

CULTURE: Scottish Parliament to Smokers: Fuck Off

Scotland’s First Minister Jack McConnell has told the Scottish Parlament that a “comprehensive ban” on smoking in public places would be initiated in 2006. People found smoking in public would face a £1,000 fine; employers not enforcing the law would face a maximum £2,500 fine.

I am so pleased with this news, it's finally happening, no more choking and coughing in pubs and clubs.

the only time i smoke is when i'm in a bar or club. this rampant anti-smoking campaign has me dumbfounded. if people didn't want to be around smoke, then i would think an industry for "smoke free" bars, clubs, restaurants, etc... would be raking in very nice profits. it's easy to say "no" when it's a ballot question, why then is it so difficult for people to vote with their money? perhaps we already have.

so you're saying it's a better idea to start a chain of non smoking bars than it is to simply require people to stop poisoning the air in public places?

just go stand outside with your friends and come inside for a drink when you stop acting like a chimney.
as far as i'm concerned no one has the right to pollute my/our air simply because they need their fix, i don't have the right to punch you in the face when i'm feeling frustrated, why should you have the right to get that crap in my lungs because you feel like a cigarette.

i wouldn't mind a complete and total ban on smoking except in your own home and specially designated smoking rooms. (would probably reduce the number of smokers on the long run to if kids aren't exposed to it so much)

(not that i'd want the right to punch you in the face, i'm just saying both are harmfull actions just to get rid of a personal urge, except one is legal and the other is not)

[Edited on Nov 14, 2004 by Snottlebocket]

oh its not ok to "choke and puke" in clubs and pubs
but its ok to down chemicals
that can eat the pain toff a car, combust when ignited and are proven to rot your internal organs too?
riiight.
no offense.
but thats just damned ignorant.

Its about time really.

Why should those of us who dont smoke be subjected to the chemicals and poisons in the smoke? Really how hard is it to go outside and come back when done?

And why should there be specifically non-smoking clubs for us? Why should we be segregated when were not the ones doing the wrong thing. And yes I do beleive that smoking in public and subbecting others to it is the wrong thing.

Want to kill yourself slowly? Sure, do it. But dont make me breath that shit in becasue you are too selfish to walk a few feet and go outside

If I drink it's because I chose to do so. If I'm inhaling someone else's smoke it's not through my choice.

Scotland has an appaling health record. Anything to stop the Scots croaking is a good thing. I'd be glad if smoking was banned in Englad too. It's unlikely to be banned in England, The UK health Minister has said that banning smoking in public makes people smoke more at home and that puts children of smokers at a greater - unacceptable - risk. 17,000 children under the age of five are admitted to hospital every year with illnesses resulting from passive smoking; I guess he has a point.

I wish i lived 12 miles further north then i would be in Scotland... i hope the English courts get with the program and enforce a ban nationwide rather than leaving it to regional powers such as Liverpool who are also asking the Govt. for permission to ban smoking in public places...

I really enjoyed it when BC bars went smoke free. It was a bit of a hassle at first, because I smoke. Now needing a cigarette is a great excuse to get away from that drunk guy who keeps grabbing my ass and telling me how much i remind him of his son

I do not smoke but I do not understand why can't they let the market decide on this issue. There are non-smoking bars. Let's just have this. Both smoking and non-smoking bars. It is a question of choice. Sure they will ban smoking in bars but in my view, if they can do that, they will start either banning or curtailing other things like drinking. Maybe an enforced drinking limit or cutting alcohol content in drinks. Maybe earlier closing hours. I honestly think that this will be the beginning of a "new-puritanism". If people have to stop smoking then we should just stop drinking and go to bed early.

Where I live there is no smoking ban but if there is then I fear that the nightlife here will be seriously curtailed. Maybe I will stop drinking when it does happen.

[Edited on Nov 14, 2004 4:37AM]

Parliament.

Again: Drinking affects you, Smoking affects everyone who breathes your smoke.

The UK is investigating several things to combat problme drinking. One thing is longer opening hours. Another is a ban on irresponsible drinks promotions; anyhting that encourages people to drink more than they would normally, or faster than they would normally.

Thanks!

well said, much better than my word jumble.

ok ok i get the logic but yet i dont
youre not choosing and thats valid
still
make smokers only clubs then?
*shrugs*
*laughs*
i dunno i think its pc and all.... but it can go way too far (i heard in california someone can have you toted off to jail for smoking..... in your own backyard...)

Thanks for the informative comment demetrius_z.

A ban on smoking in public isn't as radical a move as it might at first appear. There are already places in the UK where there is a local ban on public smoking. The difference here is the geographical scale of it. Personally I think that it is a good thing. After all, in the UK smoking is prohibited in many workplaces (except for designated smoking rooms), in most shops and on public transport, so banning smoking in all public places seems like the logical next step.

After all the talk about people being able to choose whether they smoke or not, perhaps we should consider the people who WORK in public venues (such as bars) and who have to breathe everyone else's smoke. Under the UK Health & Safety at Work legislation, employers are obliged to provide employees with a safe working environment. It should be noted that the legislation does not permit employees to waive their right to be protected from unsafe working conditions, so there is no room for anyone to say, "Oh well, they chose to work in a bar, so they waived their right to protection and hence they should be prepared to inhale everyone else's smoke".

Right now the Scottish Parliament is way cooler than the UK Parliament (and I'm not even scottish)!!

Agreed, I don't see the need for a total ban.

Haven't we had this thread 298574635548969097364 tiimes already?

Can't we just cut n' paste all the responses from last time and go get brunch (in a nonsmoking restauarant, natch) like civilised human beings?

what emetrius_z said just there is enough

It is a poven that passive smoking kills. The ban in enclosed public places makes great sense.

I want the same in England.

Signed.

An occsional smoker.

The restaurant I work at went non-smoking and our business improved. Just a little side fact I like to mention.