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| No | 48% | 137 votes | Total: 283 votes | |
| Yes | 52% | 146 votes |
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Add to FavoritesThe Ridiculous Side Effects from the Smoking Ban:
Firstly, I will pass a big thank you to all of those who came up with the dumb Smoking Ban in the first place; You've made our lives uncomfortable and full of illness, whilst generally making us feel as small as desperate thieves.
The Smokers are now 'Victims of self-righteousness' from the minority of Non-Smokers, which has led to an uneasy feeling of being Bullied, for the sake of a habit, they feel it's their God-given right to now push us around and treat us like Dogs.
Everyone sticks to the ruling, but, has anyone actually seen anyone, other than Non-Smokers, Policing this judgement? Not a soul. Yet, still, when we have the urge to fulfil our Addiction; We still, automatically, adhere to the warnings.
Why do have to hide in open doorways like drowned Rats, when we should stand up to the stupid rule, and fight for our human rights. We were swayed into smoking by corporation and advertising, so, therefore, We, shouldn't be ridiculed or shoved outside in the cold, for their caused effects.
Can you imagine them enforcing this Smoking Ban back in the World Wars, when they gave their Troops Cigarettes to remain calm, to escape their minds for a relaxing Ten minutes, from the stressful environment around them? They would probably get shot for even coughing out a ruling as stupid and lecturing as this.
Confusingly, from other stupid rulings; It makes no sense, from the fact that you aren't able to Smoke inside, but you can Drink Alcoholic beverages, whereas, you cannot Drink Alcohol outside, but you can Smoke freely, within the multiple boundaries.
This ruling has made British Pubs strange to walk into these days; There's an empty atmosphere inside, created by the lack of punters remaining, especially as most of the Non-Smokers, are Outside, talking to the Smokers, leaving a mere handful of selfish geeks lingering around the bar itself. The traditional Pub smell has now been replaced by an awful mix of lager, wee and sick.
Despite the many aides to tug us away from smoking; None of them actually work for the full journey, nothing holds your mind from 'fancying' a cigarette, after giving up. Everytime I've tried to give up, using patches, gums, inhalers or any other useless device; The will to smoke is always lingering, especially around other smokers, which naturally, we all slowly seep back into the comfortable routine, as it's the only thing which pulls you away from the stresses of life itself.
The only way they can completely stop everyone from smoking - Is to remove the huge display of cigarettes, calling to you, every time you walk into any Supermarket, Newsagent, or Petrol Station.
If not; Just create a Year of Depression, where Everyone gives up at the same time. Although, the Cigarette Companies would not like that decision, it would be the only way to twart it out completely.
I bet, the day the ruling was decided in the House of Commons; There was a lot of angry Polititions, stood outside in the wind and rain, Smoking from the ridiculous decision.
Although; They probably remained Indoors, as they appear to be immune to the laws they hang onto the public.
Learn more about this author, Jamie Tubbs.
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Yes
The ban on smoking in virtually all enclosed public spaces came into effect in England on 1 July 2007. The main reason behind the ban was to protect people from the effects of passive smoking. In that regard, the smoking ban is working because few people attempt to flout the rules on smoking inside public buildings, whilst business owners are unlikely to allow smoking to happen on their premises, because if they are caught they face a hefty fine. Consequently, non-smokers are free from the worry of the effects that passive smoking could have on them.
In the debates leading up to the introduction of a smoking ban in England and the rest of the United Kingdom, the focus was very much on whether it was right for the government to legislate against an individual's personal choice. If a pub owner wanted to allow smoking to continue on his premises, with non-smoking areas for non-smokers, then why should the government intervene? If an individual wanted to smoke in a designated smoking area, was it not his own personal choice to be able to do so?
The negative impact on an individual's health from passive smoking was not questioned. Instead, questions about how such a ban could be implemented and enforced came to the fore.
There was talk of getting businesses to sign up to a voluntary scheme, but most politicians realised that this was too much of a piecemeal approach, and was unlikely to have any effect. With the ban, however, there has been a vast improvement in bars, pubs clubs and restaurants in particular. These are the areas where the ban has had most impact, as smokers are forced to go outside to have a cigarette, rather than congregating inside, breathing out their fumes to the rest of the customers. It is now possible to enter pubs and clubs without leaving smelling of smoke.
Initially, there may have been concern about government interference in smokers' rights, but surely non-smokers' rights were just as important. Perhaps, non-smokers' rights were paid more attention because choosing not to smoke harms no one, whilst smoking has the potential to harm anyone who breathes in the fumes. Before the ban non-smokers, particularly bar staff and other workers, could not avoid smokers, and so they ended up having their health put at risk by the actions of others. Their individual rights were not up for consideration.
Now everybody can enter rooms and buildings that were formerly smoke-filled in the knowledge that their health is not going to be put in jeopardy from the smoking habits of other people. The ban has even had an impact on some smokers who decided that the beginning of the ban was a good time to give up smoking, whilst other smokers did not give up but smoke fewer cigarettes when they are out because of the inconvenience of having to go outside to smoke.
The smoking ban in England has been surprisingly effective. The concerns that it would be hard to enforce proved to be unfounded as there seems to be a general acceptance of the ban by people. There have been a few high-profile exceptions, where the smoking ban has been flouted, but these are relatively few in number. It seems that finally the law has effectively worked in catering for the needs of the non-smoking majority, rather than pandering to concerns from a minority of smokers.
Learn more about this author, Michelle Wilkinson.
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