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Smoking

The scots have governing body have voted to ban smoking in public places. As you can imagine that has caused a bit of disagreement.

For the most part, smokers argue that it’s a threat to their civil liberties, and taking away their free choice.

Pub owners and the like argue that it’ll kill their profits and perhaps their business.

And non-smokers tend to argue that it’s a brilliant idea that will make their evenings in places like pubs and clubs much nicer.

That’s the general view, there are of course people who disagree or agree in different camps.

I’m a non-smoker and would certainly look forward to smoke free pubs. But at the same time, I can see the “freedom” point of view made by smokers.

I think you have to draw a line somehow though. It’s clear that smoking in a pub will effect more than just yourself, so do you have the right to make a choice on their behalf?

And as freedoms stand you’re still free to smoke in your own home.

I guess it depends where you take the effect on others too. I’m pretty sure that in most cases people should be tolerant of other’s choices… for example someone listening to a walkman on a bus and you can hear a little of the music (because headphones aren’t perfect). Or someone making a mobile phone call that you can hear. That noise pollution may offend some people, but I think in that case tolerance is required, though of course if you’re annoying everyone on the bus, then you’re being thoroughly anti-social and should perhaps be stopped.

I think smoking falls into the same category, it will effect a lot of other people, and as studies have shown, will damage their health. Do you really want the right to enter a building and then start damaging the health of everyone around you?

It’s an odd topic, and to be honest I’m rather against the government nannying everyone, but by the same token I’d rather not stink of fags after being in a pub. But I don’t think I feel strongly about it to demand the government do something in England.

Posted by Phil on November 11, 2004 07:39 AM | Categories: Thoughts

A complete ban is a bit over the top, but I think a lot of employees in pubs will breath a sigh of relief.
Here in Belgium pubs and restaurants must be either smoke-free or have a sparate area for smokers with a special air sucking installation to get the smoke out before it fouls up the rest of the place.
Public offices (Mail, banks, etc.) are no-smoking, as is public transport.

Posted by: sjon at November 12, 2004 7:30 AM