Can't say I agree. Smoking isn't a matter of civil liberties. It's a toxic nicotine delivery system and nicotine is an addictive drug. Time was when opium and cocaine could be legally bought and consumed in the UK and the Western World. Coca-Cola has that name because when it was first sold it contained cocaine. Those addictive drugs were outlawed, and I expect there were concerns raised at that time about civil liberties. But I assume you would not advocate the legalisation of heroin or cocaine for recreational use now, on the grounds of protecting civil liberties. Vaping is bad enough. And the way it is marketed at children is a disgrace. Nicotine should be illegal in my opinion, except for very specific medical applications. The 'Bad News' from my perspective is that not enough is being done to fight this addiction that is poisoning a generation of our youngsters.
It’s smoking outdoors @lardiman And smokers in the UK already pay just about the highest tax rates outside of the top 1% Politicians are not elected to ban things they don’t like. The odious Labour Party didn’t mention this policy in their manifesto for a reason. I look forward to Starmer imposing the outdoor smoking ban not just outside football grounds (which are specifically mentioned), but at next year’s Notting Hill Carnival.
I don't believe in banning things like smoking.Smoking Cannabis is illegal but hundreds of thousands of people smoke it. Make it legal, slap some duty on it and treat it like they do in the Netherlands. Prohibition in America didn't work and it led to crime and violence.Everyone knows the dangers of smoking but you can't take away their freedom of choice to do it.
that’s a personal opinion , which I have no problem with. But it doesn’t give you or anyone else the right to ban it.
Rishi Sunak already banned young people from beginning to smoke, a law supported by Labour when in opposition. Prohibition of alcohol is law in many Countries around the World. Though I don't think it should be banned here. And I can understand why it did not work in the USA. Alcohol is different from Nicotine in that the addiction threshold for alcohol is much higher than the amount most people regularly drink. So most drinkers never become addicted to alcohol. Though it is a pity so many people drink irresponsibly. I think around 75% of violent crime is linked to alcohol abuse, and it causes hundreds of traffic accidents every year. Imagine how much better our society would be if violent crime was slashed by 75%. With nicotine, the addiction threshold is much lower than average consumption - so almost everyone who uses it becomes addicted. And it is well known that addictions of any kind lead to misery, crime and damage to the fabric of society. Hundreds of thousands (maybe millions) of kids and youths are growing up addicted to caffeine and nicotine. Any moves to discourage the use of nicotine are welcome as far as I'm concerned, if this Government can get the bills through Parliament.
I smoked for 20+ years before stopping after reading Allen Carr's book The Easy Way to Stop Smoking. I'm fairly certain I wouldn't be here today if I didn't stop. However my next door neighbour died 2 years ago age 90 after smoking 40 a day, so not everyone is the same. As far as I can see people who smoke outside aren't doing harm to anyone but themselves, which shouldn't be illegal.
Where do you draw the line in terms of legislators showing a prurient interest in a citizen’s private life ? You can argue that sodomy is a risk to public health. Would you have the police enforcing a law that bans it ?
Drinking too much alcohol causes a big strain on the health service as does obesity. Should we ban alcohol and fattening food? Where does it all end? I am a Labour supporter but I am anti this smoking ban.
I stand corrected. Must admit I thought that smoking law was waved through before Parliament was dissolved. The new Government will bring it back in then and make it law. Generations from now I think it will be thing first thing Rishi Sunak is remembered for. The genuine act of a father concerned for the future health and wellbeing of his kids and others. That's not a bad legacy.
When an awful Labour woman called Patricia Hewitt bossily brought in the indoor smoking ban 20 years ago, many wiser voices at the time warned her of the cultural and economic impact the ban would have on traditional Working Men’s Clubs - particularly in the North. And so it proved. Hundreds closed. It’s interesting to read the reaction today from event producers and pub landlords etc, who are predicting a similarly disastrous impact from an outdoor smoking ban. If you remove the fun from something - in this case a smoke on a night out - you remove part of the incentive to go out (and spend money) in the first place. We are at the top of a very slippery slope if we start banning things we personally don’t like. Let adults make decisions for themselves.
It paid a huge part in it , that’s a fact. They were warned at the time. It’s one of the reasons I have always despised Labour - the “we know what’s good for the little people” attitude writs large.
