Forum search & shortcuts

Smoking ban and Smo...
 

Smoking ban and Smokers

 Drac
Posts: 50642
 

Well if he didn’t smoke for years at a time he would have been classed as an ex-smoker. I think the NHS considers anyone who hasn’t smoked for at least a year to be an ex-smoker.

Not once he started again they wouldn’t.


 
Posted : 11/09/2024 9:28 pm
Posts: 12888
Free Member
 

And to achieve what? So a few petticoat-ruffling bedwetters  in Islington, who never went to the pub anyway, get to feel smug and pleased with themselves having saved us from ourselves

it's not about you, or any current generation (of smokers). It's about future generations. Do you honestly not understand that? That's what I call "wrapped up in your own bullshit", if so.


 
Posted : 11/09/2024 9:40 pm
kelvin and kelvin reacted
Posts: 78647
Full Member
 

That means you’ve never stopped, just paused then started again.

"Quitting smoking is easy, I've done it loads of times."

Who the **** apologises?

Gentlemen?

Leaving a silent crop dusting upon exiting a lift, as Binners suggests I'd be giggling about that. Dropping a bag of flip-flops out of the loft at the theatre, I'd err towards a quiet "oops, pardon me" rather than "cor, you could get your breakfast out of that."

a few petticoat-ruffling bedwetters in Islington
...
Like a lot of people on this thread

At the risk of repeating myself, there's only one wildly overreacting sanctimonious bedwetter on this thread some 12 pages in and counting now.  I can only assume you're going for the 'humour' vote because rabid condescending frothing rarely reinforces an argument.


 
Posted : 11/09/2024 9:46 pm
jimw and jimw reacted
Posts: 57461
Full Member
 

it’s not about you, or any current generation (of smokers). It’s about future generations. Do you honestly not understand that? That’swhat I call “wrapped up in your own bullshit”, if so.

How many times? I haven’t smoked for over ten years

Do you not understand that people of any age don’t want the government telling them what they can and can’t do on this level?

You can do this there, but you can’t do it there. You can only do this where I say that you can

Its just typical sanctimonious bullshit from spirit-crushingly tedious people who are so inexplicably arrogant that they think they have some god-given right to tell everyone else how to live their lives

Next  year: compulsory muesli and yoga?

Just leave people alone to get on with their lives, making their own choices, if they’re not harming anyone else FFS!

Its bollocks on stilts and all it achieves is fostering massive resentment towards those smug, condescending bastards issuing dictats from their ivory towers


 
Posted : 11/09/2024 9:52 pm
Posts: 4247
Free Member
 

Can anyone join in? Bit torn tbh. On the one hand who likes bans, and I like weaknesses in a person. All the best people used to smoke.

On the other hand, the tobacco industry is plain evil. Their business model is based on wrecking people's health (stopping smoking being the single best thing you can do for your health) and over the years they've done their best to continue unimpeded. Millions suffering and dying round the world as a result and I can evidence this statement if anyone particularly wants. Their tactics of disinformation are now adopted by the oil companies. Who wants to be on the same side as those guys?

So how do you eliminate it from the world in the face of the tobacco industry's tactics? Hoping people see sense ain't going to do it.


 
Posted : 11/09/2024 9:55 pm
kelvin and kelvin reacted
Posts: 78647
Full Member
 

How many times? I haven’t smoked for over ten years

Yes you have.  What do you suppose is in an e-cig, liquified Hob-Nobs?

Do you not understand that people of any age don’t want the government telling them what they can and can’t do on this level?

Too bad, this is the price you pay to live in a civilised society.  There is a handful of people I would cheerfully drown in a bucket of Dulux, but sadly the "government" tells me I'm not allowed to do that.

Its just typical sanctimonious bullshit from spirit-crushingly tedious people who are so inexplicably arrogant that they think they have some god-given right to tell everyone else how to live their lives

... he said, with no trace of irony.

All you're doing here is trying to shout down anyone who disagrees with you, over and over and over, and then you accuse everyone else of being sanctimonious.


 
Posted : 11/09/2024 10:26 pm
towpathman, kelvin, kelvin and 1 people reacted
Posts: 57461
Full Member
 

All you’re doing here is trying to shout down anyone who disagrees with you, over and over and over, and then you accuse everyone else of being sanctimonious.

I’m doing the opposite. You seem to be struggling with it. To clarify: I’m saying I have absolutely no right to tell anyone how to live their lives and the only assertion I’ve made is that other people don’t have that right either

You can do whatever the **** you like as far as I’m concerned and if you’re not harming anyone else, then good luck to you. I literally couldn’t care less

A principle that you and many others on this thread seem to be struggling with. You either don’t get it, despite it being easy enough to comprehend, or in a lot of cases actively object to it. For reasons that can only really be seen as ‘I know best. Do as you’re told’

You seem to think that ‘I don’t like it’ seems to be enough of a reason to have something banned.

It isn’t.

I don’t know how many times I have to repeat this but if people are making lifestyle choices that have no detrimental effect on others then leave them alone to get on with it

’I don’t like your lifestyle choices’ is not a reason to ban things you personally don’t like.

I’m not calling for anything to be banned, not even the sanctimonious, condescending, self-righteous bell-endery that this thread is absolutely chock full of

Nobody needs or wants you to save them from themselves


 
Posted : 11/09/2024 10:46 pm
Posts: 18062
Full Member
 

Do you not understand that people of any age don’t want the government telling them what they can and can’t do on this level?

You can do this there, but you can’t do it there.

So do you think smoking should still be allowed inside pubs?


 
Posted : 11/09/2024 11:25 pm
J-R, kelvin, kelvin and 1 people reacted
Posts: 477
Free Member
 

There is a handful of people I would cheerfully drown in a bucket of Dulux

I’m stealing that phrase, superb!


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 12:03 am
soundninjauk, Cougar, soundninjauk and 1 people reacted
Posts: 57461
Full Member
 

So do you think smoking should still be allowed inside pubs

Of course not! Because smoking in an enclosed space obviously has impact on other peoples health. Nobody is disputing passive smoking is real. I certainly wouldn’t want to do it in an enclosed space with people smoking fags. It’s goppin’!

But smoking outdoors is completely different and has absolutely zero effect on other peoples health

The people proposing the ban know this full well but their basis for doing this isn’t to do with health, it’s ‘I don’t like it’

i don’t know how many times I have to repeat this but that isn’t a reason for banning things because once you start down that road, where does it stop?

Read some of the comments on this thread and I think it’s safe to assume that some would be happy to ban pretty much everything on the basis of ‘I don’t like it!’

Luckily we’re presently spared from their po-faced and joyless stick-up-the-arse disapproval from becoming law


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 12:09 am
Posts: 16221
Free Member
 

But smoking outdoors is completely different and has zero effect on other peoples health

Please cite your evidence for this claim.


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 12:14 am
Posts: 57461
Full Member
 

The burden of proof isn’t in me. It’s on the people proposing banning stuff. I note no evidence has been put up, other than ‘I want to ban it because I don’t like it’

You're not going to get lung cancer from the odd whiff of a Silk Cut, as is glaringly obvious unless you’re a complete idiot


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 12:22 am
Posts: 7279
Free Member
 

Why would you expect to see an acceleration in the rate of decline?

Because smoking has been declining steadily in pretty much all OECD countries for years and years and will continue to do so as older cohorts die out and are replaced by new generations where take up rates are lower .  To be fair the smoking ban wasn't aimed at reducing smoking but reducing disease caused by second hand smoke.  That is also why the Evidence Review you linked is primarily focused on those outcomes.  The evidence for the smoking ban leading to a reduction in smoking isn't at all robust which is openly discussed in the paper.  For instance

The study employed qualitative methods which have the benefit of yielding rich
and detailed insight into people’s views and circumstances. However, this means
that the research was not and did not aim to be representative of the English
population as a whole. The views expressed were by their nature specific to the
individuals and communities included. The study was limited to six areas
in two parts of the country and therefore was not able to explore the views and
behaviours of people living in other parts of the country. It is also worth highlighting
that, although the study explored smoking behaviour including cutting down and
quitting pre and post-legislation, this was based on interviewees’ accounts
of their behaviour; no attempts were made to validate these accounts. Finally,
pre-legislation data were collected in the three months leading up to the
legislation, when publicity about the law was already in place. As a result,
differences in attitudes and behaviour may have been less marked than they
would have been if baseline data collection had started earlier.

and

However, it is important to note
that the results of the toolkit study and evidence of increased client numbers
attending Stop Smoking Services only provide evidence of short-term behaviour
change and are not necessarily indicative of longer-term shifts in smoking
prevalence that can be directly attributed to smokefree legislation. With relatively
few data points utilised from the pre-legislative period, it was also not possible
to examine the effects over and above longer-term trends using more
sophisticated time series analyses.

A more rigorous statistical approach was taken in this paper.

This concludes only the heaviest of smokers may reduce their consumption a bit because, in a massive simplification, there are only so many hours in a day and they can't replace all the consumption they missed out on when they were in a smoke free environment.  In its review of literature it notes that the result of other studies from other countries are very mixed.

In my view. there is insufficient evidence that any ban would achieve any significant health benefits.  However, there is evidence it would cause economic harm to an already embattled sector and it would impinge on individual's freedoms.


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 12:30 am
blokeuptheroad, binners, blokeuptheroad and 1 people reacted
Posts: 15692
Free Member
 

Please cite your evidence for this claim.

Well for a start the government supporters of this proposal are not claiming that it is designed for the benefit of non-smokers - it is reasonable to assume they would if it was indeed the case. So there is a clue right there.

However some people apparently believe that smoking is so unbelievably dangerous that just smelling a cigarette in the outdoors can have a potentially negative effect on your health. Although I don't think there is any scientific evidence that smelling a cigarette can be harmful.

So take your pick.


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 12:31 am
Posts: 34016
Full Member
 

Just to drop in an anecdote of my own, drinking in a pub since the indoor smoking ban is a vastly more pleasurable experience. On the occasions when I sit outside a pub and have a drink, I honestly cannot remember any occasion, since the ban, when my enjoyment of drinking my pint or two has been impacted by someone smoking a cigarette.
It has just never happened.
*shrugs shoulders*


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 2:50 am
blokeuptheroad, binners, binners and 1 people reacted
Posts: 78647
Full Member
 

I’m doing the opposite. You seem to be struggling with it. To clarify: I’m saying I have absolutely no right to tell anyone how to live their lives and the only assertion I’ve made is that other people don’t have that right either

I'm not struggling. You're the one screaming from the rooftops with a side order of patronising folk about their comprehension. We all get it, your point has been very much made.  You can stand down now, soldier.


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 3:16 am
towpathman, peteza, blokeuptheroad and 3 people reacted
Posts: 16221
Free Member
 

The burden of proof isn’t in me.

Yes it is: you made what appears to be an extraordinary claim, so it's up to you to back it up. Or you could carry on being a petulant toddler.


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 9:12 am
towpathman, peteza, peteza and 1 people reacted
Posts: 40
Free Member
 

You’re not going to get lung cancer from the odd whiff of a Silk Cut, as is glaringly obvious unless you’re a complete idiot

Non smoker here. But pretty sure my local would shut if smoking in the beer garden was banned. Smoking amongst regular drinkers is higher (in my local anyway) than in the population in general.
And the burden of proof is on those proposing banning anything. I've not read this entire thread, but has there been any proper scientific study regarding the impact of occasional exposure to outdoor secondary tobacco smoke ?


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 9:38 am
binners and binners reacted
Posts: 15692
Free Member
 

I’ve not read this entire thread, but has there been any proper scientific study regarding the impact of occasional exposure to outdoor secondary tobacco smoke ?

No one has mentioned one. And the government have made it clear that the proposed outdoor ban is to save smokers from themselves, not non-smokers.

Although TJ appears to believe that there risk to non-smokers if they can "smell" a cigarette, without providing any evidence.

There is a risk that my hearing will further deteriorate if I am regularly exposed to the live music at The Oval pub, I think that the scientific evidence for that is conclusive, perhaps I should be campaigning to have all live music banned from pubs?


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 10:03 am
Posts: 57461
Full Member
 

I’ve heard that looking at burgers makes you obese

Perhaps we should ban those next?


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 10:07 am
Posts: 8416
Free Member
 

You’re not going to get lung cancer from the odd whiff of a Silk Cut, as is glaringly obvious unless you’re a complete idiot

@tjagain - You seem to think that it's a risk to health?

I've point this out numerous times, on this thread and others. But some people think that passive smoking, in an outdoor environment, is a serious threat to health. God knows how they deal with real threats in everyday life?

We have a 200 year old smokehouse in our village, it smells when they are smoking fish. Should it be banned as well? I mean it's smack bang in the middle of a residential street. The cancer rates in the vicinity must be off the scale.


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 10:16 am
Posts: 31211
Full Member
 

Whatever next, eh? Making me wear a seatbelt when I drive? Taking away my opium?


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 10:18 am
Posts: 40
Free Member
 

No one has mentioned one. And the government have made it clear that the proposed outdoor ban is to save smokers from themselves, not non-smokers.

Gotcha, my personal view is it might encourage a few to consider giving up but most remaining smokers are pretty hard core now. They'll just not come in but smoke at home with their cans and friends. The pub will close for everyone !! Unless smoking is completely banned (different debate), there should be a place for smokers to indulge. A pub smoking shelter or area in a beer garden seems a completely reasonable solution to me.


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 10:19 am
Posts: 6462
Full Member
 

And the burden of proof is on those proposing banning anything. I’ve not read this entire thread, but has there been any proper scientific study regarding the impact of occasional exposure to outdoor secondary tobacco smoke ?

Given just how long it usually takes to kill oneself whilst being a smoker first hand, I would suggest such a scientific study would be entirely pointless, hell there's even loads of us (Roy Castle aside) who have lived through years of people smoking inside pubs with relatively little effect apart from perhaps a more frequent use of laundry services.


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 10:20 am
Posts: 5830
Full Member
 

Whatever next, eh? Making me wear a seatbelt when I drive?

I think the outrage from a sizeable chunk of the motoring population when compulsory seatbelts came in was even greater than the fuss about this.  See also compulsory motorcycle helmets*.  Though I think the immediate and significant lifesaving benefits of both of those laws are something a pub garden ban smoking ban won't share!

*Completely off topic, but the story of Fred Hill, who campaigned against compulsory helmets is fascinating.  He died in Pentoville prison aged 74 in 1984 - his 31st incarceration.


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 11:05 am
Posts: 16221
Free Member
 

I’ve heard that looking at burgers makes you obese

Feel free to post the evidence for your claim.


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 11:27 am
Posts: 477
Free Member
 

Maybe all of these community minded smokers could give up smoking and still support their local pub, instead of being a snowflake and giving up on the pub because they can’t smoke there.  In fact, with all the money saved on cigarettes, these fine outstanding citizens of the community will have more money to spend in the pub, and pubs will flourish.

This is a great idea, let’s get the ban through asap!


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 11:42 am
peteza, zilog6128, ransos and 9 people reacted
Posts: 18062
Full Member
 

On the occasions when I sit outside a pub and have a drink, I honestly cannot remember any occasion, since the ban, when my enjoyment of drinking my pint or two has been impacted by someone smoking a cigarette.
It has just never happened.

It has happened to me more than once. But anecdotes eh?


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 12:34 pm
peteza and peteza reacted
Posts: 9305
Full Member
 

Taking away my opium?

You have access to opium ?. PM sent.

For a friend.


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 12:41 pm
 kcr
Posts: 2949
Free Member
 

A more rigorous statistical approach was taken in this paper.

If I'm reading that paper correctly, the authors developed a theoretical model of how smoking prevalence would be affected by a smoking ban, and tested that model using empirical evidence from the Scottish and English bans (which weakly supported the conclusions of the model). So they weren't simply analysing whether smoking prevalence dropped as a result of the bans; they were modelling smoking behaviour to predict if it would drop in the event of a ban.

So it's not so much a "more rigorous statistical approach" as a completely different sort of study.

The model did predict that people smoke less as a result of a ban, however.

However, there is evidence it would cause economic harm to an already embattled sector and it would impinge on individual’s freedoms.

Is there evidence of this? It must be difficult to disentangle the many other problems pubs and clubs are facing and identify how much economic impact they have today from the existing smoking ban (and what the economic effects of the outdoor ban would be - positive as well as negative, because a ban will encourage some new customers).

Impinging on individual freedom? We have many examples of individual freedoms that society has collectively agreed to limit. The freedom to smoke outside a pub is pretty low on the Braveheart scale.


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 1:10 pm
Posts: 15692
Free Member
 

Maybe all of these community minded smokers could give up smoking and still support their local pub, instead of being a snowflake and giving up on the pub because they can’t smoke there. In fact, with all the money saved on cigarettes, these fine outstanding citizens of the community will have more money to spend in the pub, and pubs will flourish.

This is a great idea, let’s get the ban through asap!

The motivation behind the proposal is alleged concern for the wellbeing of smokers, you don't appear to be in full sync with the spirit of this proposed law.

The problem here is that people are selfish and frankly don't care much about things which have little effect on their lives. The proposal appears to have widespread public support (which is presumably useful for a government which would rather the public didn't focus on less popular issues) I suspect that most people who support the proposal don't do so because they are concerned about the health of smokers.


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 4:15 pm
Posts: 477
Free Member
 

You don’t seem to understand I was poking fun at those wetting the bed over this!


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 4:19 pm
Posts: 15692
Free Member
 

Yes I understood that you were taking the piss. I didn't think you were being serious with your talk of "fine outstanding citizens" and "snowflakes".


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 5:06 pm
Posts: 31211
Full Member
 

Might have missed this, as the thread goes on a bit... but has anyone mentioned that, presumably, this is all a part of trying to prevent a new generation of smokers? It's not just about "protecting smokers from themselves", but about (further) reducing take up... fewer new smokers has to be an aim of any public health policy. Removing smoking from the places we socialise and relax begins to remove the, hard fought for by the companies that sell this stuff, emotional and social link between smoking and switching off that us older peeps have hard had wired into our brains... reducing that for younger generations has to be key. That's what occurred to be when I was sat in the sunshine in the pub yard earlier anyway.


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 7:57 pm
Posts: 15692
Free Member
 

Possibly Kelvin, I have no idea how kids get introduced to fags these days. For me smoking was more associated with going to school than going to the pub. By the time I looked old enough to get away with ordering a pint in a pub I was already an addicted smoker.

Is it likely to be much different these days?


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 9:00 pm
Posts: 57461
Full Member
 

It’s all about da vapes wit da kidz, innit?


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 9:05 pm
Posts: 26905
Full Member
 

Now they after your chips Binners!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2n2g5wze4o


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 9:23 pm
Posts: 15692
Free Member
 

That article doesn't define what is likely to be classed as "junk food", they just give a couple of examples of won't be.


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 9:57 pm
Posts: 31211
Full Member
 

That’s interesting. How will the ban on online ads be monitored and enforced?


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 11:15 pm
Posts: 9305
Full Member
 

That article doesn’t define what is likely to be classed as “junk food”

And you don't think using a picture of a burger and chips is in any way indicative of the type of junk food they're likely to target ?


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 11:18 pm
Posts: 15692
Free Member
 

Well I think that the BBC decided to  use an illustration of a burger and some chips to interpret what they consider to be junk food, does that provide evidence that it also the government's definition of junk food?

Does the government even use the term "junk food" in the context of the proposed legislation? I would have thought ultra processed food might be a better defined target with regards to tackling childhood obesity. Which would include biscuits, cakes, crisps, sugary drinks, etc

But as I say the article doesn’t define what is likely to be classed as “junk food”

Edit : Sorry my mistake, according to the article it isn't "proposed" legislation, it will come into force October 1st next year.


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 11:36 pm
Posts: 78647
Full Member
 

If they're tackling advertising because Won't Somebody Think Of The Children their efforts would be better spent on the intrusive shit which suddenly appears mid-sentence during Peppa Pig.


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 11:51 pm
Posts: 15692
Free Member
 

Well to answer my own question it likely will include the following:

soft drinks with added sugar

juice drinks with added sugar

milk drinks with added sugar

crisps and savoury snacks

breakfast cereal

chocolate confectionary

sugar confectionary

ice cream

cakes

sweet biscuits

morning goods

pudding and dairy desserts

yoghurts

pizza

chips and potato products

family meal centres

complete main meals (ready meals)

breaded and battered products

main meals (out-of-home)

starters, sides and small plates (out-of-home)

children’s meal bundles (out-of-home)

sandwiches (out-of-home)

It would appear that the current government are basically going ahead with a proposal by the previous government which was put on hold to give the junk food industry time to adjust:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/further-advertising-restrictions-for-products-high-in-fat-salt-and-sugar/outcome/introducing-further-advertising-restrictions-on-tv-and-online-for-products-high-in-fat-salt-and-sugar-government-response#annex-1-products-in-scope


 
Posted : 12/09/2024 11:54 pm
Posts: 5830
Full Member
 

What are "morning goods"?


 
Posted : 13/09/2024 12:00 am
Posts: 15692
Free Member
 

Probably among the least healthy on that list! I imagine it's croissant, pain au chocolat, brioche, pastries, that sort of thing?


 
Posted : 13/09/2024 12:12 am
Page 11 / 13