Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Apparently ASH is calling for this and although I would much prefer people to be responsible thereby making such bans be unnecessary, I think there's an argument for so doing given the number of people who puff away subjecting their small children to their noxious fumes in a confined space.

What do you think?

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

I think there's already enough noxious fumes on the road and taxes on them without worrying about another one.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Surely there isn't much difference between that and smoking in a living room where children are playing. Ultimately if smokers are not "aware" enough to be considerate to others there will always be a problem.

Which new enforcement agency would spring up to slap the wrists of the offenders?

Why not just ban smoking outright and be done with it.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

They would love to ban smoking outright Rob only two things stopping them 1 is the tax they are happy to take off the people they love to persecute and 2 they don't have the guts to do it much better to do it sneakily and gradually.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

I'm getting sick of this nanny state..They will be banning chocolate one of these days..then tea,then coffee after they have seen off booze...:mad:

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

I think smoking should be banned whilst driving altogether, imo it's just as dangerous if not more so than using a phone. If people need to smoke they should pull over at a services.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Well the nanny state prospers only because they are selective in what they hit at any one time and at the minute it is smoking and all those who hate smoking are jumping in with their support. Sadly they don't realise sooner or later it will be something they enjoy that is facing the chop and then they will expect support to save their preferred thing. What goes round comes around and those foaming at the mouth to have smoking banned will suffer later on. Also i never cease to be amazed at all the people that moan about how high tax is and then say they want a total ban on smoking 5p income tax rise anyone ??.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

In the end you're either killing your children or killing other people due to lack of control.....

Slightly off topic but along the same lines didn't some car insurance companies start charging more for smokers???

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

How does one Police it? If it was banned.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

The same way as they police mobile phone usage....

Surgeries have breathalysers that can tell if you've very recently been smoking, also there's video evidence.....

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

And there doing a great job of that!!!! :rolleyes:

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

I don't feel sorry for the smokers - I feel sorry for the babies and children whose parents are sooooo selfish they'd subject their loved ones to either to be honest. However, whereas policing a smoking in front of children ban in a private household is impossible, doing so in public isn't (even if such bans e.g. using mobile phones whilst driving haven't solved the problem entirely).

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

But you were just arguing for absurd nannification of teacher pupil relationships?

There's a significant difference between smoking and chocolate, where there's no 2nd hand health risk to other people in the room. Smoking is a unique health hazard, and it should obviously be banned, certainly around other people. The idea that a parent would smoke in a car with a child is just sickening.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Well yes unfortunately they have to phsyically see them using the phone before they can act, but how else do you suggest they do it?

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Why? What's the difference between a parent having a cigarette in the car with the window open, and walking past a pub with your child whilst there are any number of smokers outside it?

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

smoking should be banned while driving full stop

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Working on that principle, so should eating whilst driving :shrug:

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

In one thread your trying to say a teacher having consential sex with a student above the age of consent is wrong then in this one someone is trying to protect children from passive smoking and you are sick of the nanny state?

No offense meant coggy but you either want to protect children or not imo

They should also ban transfats aspartame and various other additives that will and have reduced the expected lifespan of our children .

Smoking kills fact. Health dangers of passive smoking also fact. Smoking around children who do not have a say is wrong.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

If as some seem to be making a big point of it this is about child welfare then how about we hang fire on the smokers and go after the alcohol industry that are responsible for a damn sight more domestic trouble and health consequences ??. Thats how this debate goes and it's exactly how it is planned to go by those that would prefer us at each others throats rather then concentrating on what else is going on. Can we please stop pretending smoking is a new thing that only now is this great damaging beast when most of us grew up around smokers and managed to turn out quite well and healthy.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

That's a bit unfair zing, as they're two completely different subjects. On the one hand, you have something that, to whatever degree you believe, is at the very least a breach of trust, whereas on the other, we're talking about banning something that we actually can't prevent our kids coming into contact with in their day-to-day lives.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

I have to agre about selfish parents. If parents need a smoking ban to stop them smoking in front of their kids in enclosed spaces then they shouldnt have kids in the first place.

I know plenty of smokers who smoke in the garden, and definately not in the car when kids are travelling with them. Unfortunately I know quite a few who simply light up and puff away in front of their kids. Before the smoking ban was implemented I had to think twice about going for meals with some of my friends as they'd simply light up in front of the kids at the table.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

I didn't think you could anymore? :shrug:

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Yup, but it still doesn't stop people from doing it ;)

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

:D

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Smoking is a deadly drug just like heroin. It kills innocent people and it should be banned. If that means we pay more tax, then we pay more tax. Aren't we already being taxed to keep the NHS running to treat the huge number of patients with illnesses related to smoking?

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

feel free to create a topic on this subject and I will be more than happy to agree with you :)

If people want to smoke fair play to them I do not mind just please do not smoke around my daughter who I care for more than anything and think about those dear to you and understand that there are possible health risks involved with smoking around children and loved ones. Just because the individual wants to smoke does not mean those around him/her wants to breath that smoke also :)

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

And how would you enforce such a ban?

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Actually Enuff the money the NHS gets from smoking tax far outweighs what it spends on smoking related ilnesses. Guess which lifestyle choice causes the most damage and fails to pay for it's consequences ??.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Well how do they inforce the phone ban? It has to be an as seen thing, surely?

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Smoking kills smokers, but does passive smoking actually kill? I am not disputing that it could exacerbate the conditions of people with breathing related problems like asthma, but has passive smoking ever been noted on a death certificate, even as a contributory factor?

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

So, not at all then...

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

IMO there should not be a need for a ban like this or even a discussion on the matter because in an ideal world people would realise the score and take responsibility for it and not wish to put their loved ones at risk. I think it is the epitome of our crumbling society that in such an advanced state of technology and intelligence that people are so tied up in what they want to do they can not accept that they are putting others health and worse the ones that are closed to them at risk willingly

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Fairly certain I was told by a doctor years ago that the biggest cause of cancer is genetic.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

is that not bad enough??

You are not saying its ok because all it does is worsens ashma or creates none life threatening problems???

"its ok to smoke over my baby because all it does is make her cough"

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

The same could be said for car drivers (fumes from exhausts have been linked to various respiritory problems including Asthma). Especially those with large engined cars..

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

.. and listening to the radio and talking to your passengers? Both of which could be classed as distractions. :dozey:

:rolleyes:

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

IIRC you have to have genetic capability of catching cancer to get cancer however emphysema diabetes and various other diseases that smoking can contribute to are not ;)

---------- Post added at 12:27 ---------- Previous post was at 12:26 ----------

Again I agree Stuart but this thread is not about that

I am all for protecting the innocents especially children no matter

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

I don't believe he is saying whether he thinks it's OK or not, I think he is just asking whether it has been proved that passive smoking has ever contributed to a death.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

I know but there are worse things than death. A lifetime of illness and suffering for a start

My extended point on this is if a parent or guardian is willing to smoke in car with a child then chances are they smoke in the home with them also so that is a lot of time closely exposed to passive smoking.IMO a responsible person would not even dream of doing this. So why do some parents do it?

I would like to hear reasons off anyone who will actually admit smoking around their kids

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

I answered a poster who said smoking "kills innocent people". You're right, I did NOT say it's "ok because all it does is worsens ashma or creates none life threatening problems".

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Which is rather the point I was making :)

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Pretty much sums up how I feel about it..:clap:


and David, the teachers and pupils situation..one of these days your daughter will be 16-18 and in full time education of some sort...

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

and neither of which have anything to do with smoking while driving

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

I'll admit to having smoked in the car when Little Nug's been in it - on each of the 3 or 4 occasions, it's been when we've been stuck in a traffic jam on a motorway, several miles from either a slip road or a service station. On each of those occasions, I've had the window open and, as it happens, he's been asleep.

I'm don't particularly want to get into a big argument about the whole thing but, as a smoker, having sat in the car for an hour and not moved (or, at least, only moved about a mile), I'm not going to apologise for doing it. Day-to-day, I don't smoke in front of him - I smoke outside when I'm at home, and it's even rare that I'll have a cigarette when we're just out walking with him. Imo, the 3 or 4 occasions when I have done it have been no worse than, as I said earlier, walking past the smokers outside a pub :shrug:

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

why dont you smoke around him day to day?

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Does he stop breathing when asleep then?

Your a responsible adult, you should have waited. (Sorry i think i got you confused with someone else ;))

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Because I've chosen not to - I'm a (fairly ;) ) intelligent bloke, and I'm well aware of the theories surrounding passive smoking. Moreover, as somweone who used to smoke in the house, I really can't be doing with the smell of stale cigarettes.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

yeah and if a teacher takes advantage I will allow the school to find away around it and catch him on his own one night away from witnesses and impose Dave justice upon him.

So basically your saying its ok to smoke around kids then Maggy?

---------- Post added at 12:45 ---------- Previous post was at 12:44 ----------


so at least you accept there is a risk and take precautions. I understand and accept what is like under stress as an ex smoker I can thoughly understand.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

As an ex smoker I dont seeen anything wrong in that, as long as window is open. :)

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Well, I'm an adult :)

My point about him being asleep is that he couldn't see me doing it which, as we've all seen the adverts doing the rounds, contributes to kids seeing smoking as a good thing (not that I'm saying it is particularly).

As it happens, I don't feel that I should have waited - in reality, the distance travelled at the time meant that I could probably have got out of the car and had one, but it's not advisable on a motorway. I'm not going to disagree that, in other circumstances, I would have waited, but that wasn't the situation at that time.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Not knowing what kind of long term effect it could have on a child? I think that is selfish.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Absolutely and, as an ex-smoker yourself, you'll know that it's far better to have a fag than to get out of the car and lamp the bloke in front of you who refuses to move, even though all the rest of the traffic has :)

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Is that a joke??

Do you think by smoking in secret from him he's going to be oblivious to smoking? I agree its being "the good parent" but its pointless.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

And you're entitled to your opinion. Doesn't mean that it's right though ;)

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

It's not about what you enjoy, it's about causing harm to other people, and some of us are considerate enough to understand that. I might enjoy going around urinating on people in public, but I'm ok with it not being allowed. Although, it would still be less hazardous to other people than smoking, and it would certainly leave them smelling better. ;)

He echoed my sentiments, so the odds are heavily in his favor.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Not at all - he'll never be oblivious to the fat that people smoke, but if's mostly unaware that I do, it's a good start as far as I'm concerned.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Yes, but what gives a parent the right to expose their habit to an innocent child who cannot just get up and walk away? (talking about infants here) I can't see how it's fair?

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

I've never smoked. (I wouldn't want you to think I was unwilling to "admit" to it.) :angel:

But I don't think passive smoking should be used to criminalise yet another group. I've already had my kids' head teacher preaching over small bars of chocolate in their lunch boxes. No doubt only approved items will be permissible before long. If the government is really concerned with children's health, it should prevent children's deaths from unarguably abusive parents before it turns its zeal on everyone else.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Dude we are not talking about giving the kid a blow back!!!!!! We are talking about blowing smoke out of a car window. There is no chance at all the child will suffer from ill health from a crafty fag in the car!! :rolleyes:

Selfish :rolleyes:.............not:)

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

My point is that when he discovers you smoke he will think that its acceptable to smoke as long as you do it in secret. Wouldn't you sooner know he had started smoking so that you could try to do something about it?

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Wheres the backup to that comment? You may well be right, but why risk it?

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

There are worse things a parent can do to and in front of a child David..and don't forget I have never smoked in front of a child...Steamed yes,smoked no.;)

It's an unenforceable law in the most part...like children and seatbelts,mobile phones etc..I've seen any number of these examples in recent months because there will always be those who will flout such laws.:(

My complaint basically is that where will the banning end?How far are we to be subject to the constant nagging as though we are children?

I'm an adult and I want to be treated like one..I want to choose my vices and I don't need anyone to tell me that a,b,c,and d are bad for me so it's banned.It should be a,b,c and d are bad for you and these are the reasons why..now it's up to you to decide what to do.

Of course smoking,drinking,drugs,coffee,tea,sex are bad for children and should be banned for them...but not necessarily for adults.;)

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

You're missing the point. It's not about it being bad for you, it's about the potential harm you inflict on other people, particularly children.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Oh and another point when it comes to smoking it's a fallacy that children watching their parents smoke will automatically smoke later in life..I never did and my children have seen their father smoke and both have turned out to hate the habit.:erm:

---------- Post added at 13:07 ---------- Previous post was at 13:04 ----------


No it's not, it's about banning smoking in dribs and drabs without ever being honest enough to just ban it outright...and it won't be long before other habits are banned because they are bad for other people...:rolleyes:

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Same thing that gives them right to fill them up with junk food, but no-one's talking about banning McDonalds :shrug:

---------- Post added at 13:21 ---------- Previous post was at 13:19 ----------

Well, fingers crossed, I'll have stopped by then :)

In fairness, you're absolutely right - however, I'm not so much smoking 'in secret' as just not around him (99% of the time). I would hope that he never starts smoking but, if he does, you're correct in the asumption that I would want to know :)

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

The problem I have is how far do we go? I can accept that Smoking is dangerous (predominantly to the smoker themself). I can also accept that aything that districts a driver is dangerous. Although we have an offence of Driving without Due Care and Attention (which, AFAIK, did cover mobile phone use while driving even before the government introduced the new offence).

Even though it's never (AFAIK) been proved to actually kill anyone, smoking in confined spaces is also dangerous for anyone else in the space, so while any ban may have questionable benefits and cost an awful lot to enforce, I don't entirely disagree with banning smoking in confined spaces with children.

What I am worried about is where it appears to be leading to. First, we ban Smoking, then drinking. What then? Excessive amounts of sugar? Fats (obesity costs the NHS a lot after all)?
On a more extreme example, do we start banning people with infectious diseases (after all, certain diseases are as dangerous as smoking)? Cars? People of certain colours/genders/sexual persuasions (all of which have been classes as "dangerous" by various governments)?

Increasingly we are being told what we can and can't do by the Government. At best, this achieves little (if anything) and costs the taxpayer a lot. At worst, we (as a people) will become increasingly controlled and while we may not rebel, we will learn that we don't need to control ourselves.

Simply put, people need to learn self control and to take responsibility for their actions. Most people won't knowingly put their (or any) children at risk. How will we expect our children to learn what is safe and what isn't if the government has already banned anything remotely dangerous? This isn't specifically aimed any potential smoking ban, but children learn by making mistakes. How are they going to learn if they aren't allowed to make mistakes?

---------- Post added at 13:47 ---------- Previous post was at 13:29 ----------

That is, of course, assuming that the child in question tries smoking and decides he/she likes it.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Innocent people have died due to smoking. It's a selfish deadly habit, and some who go outside to smoke, only do so because they're more concerned about their homes smelling fresh and clean. If only they'd care just as much about themselves and others.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

The problem there is that innocent people have died as a result of any number of things, not just smoking. I smoke outside for a number of reasons, only one of which is the fact that I don't want the house to stink. I don't think anyone's arguing that smoking is a deadly habit, but isn't that tempered even a little by the fact that it's also an addiction?

I actually don't agree that it's a selfish habit - I either smoke outside on my own or, if one of my neighbours is out also smoking, I'll talk to him. If I'm in the pub, I smoke outside with other smokers or, if I'm at work, I smoke outside with my colleagues - I really don't see what's elfish about me smoking with other smokers...

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

This is why any debate on smoking is pointless no one is interested in anything other then their viewpoint and isn't willing to see manipulation where it is being used. I grew up in a house where all the adults smoked all my extended relatives smoked and smoked heavily around me and my cousins are we now gasping for breath, are our lungs shot to pieces, are we cancer ridden no none of us are.

For those worrying about catching cancer sorry people too late you already have it everyone has cancer cells in their bodies and always have had. It only becomes a problem when those cells are triggered and start to aggressively multiply. Smoking can cause this and for some stress can cause it shall we ban stress ??? for others it can be as simple as a knock on the head fact is there are dozens if not hundreds of ways it can be triggered and you can't ban them all.

Right now it suits some to turn smoking into something it isn't and while i agree for some smoking is intensely annoying and not pleasant to be around the same can be said of many things. What this debate needs to get back is some perspective with people actually making rational choices not choices made for them by groups with their own agendas looking to impose their will and view on to all.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

It's a fallacy because your children didn't take up smoking? That's quite an in-depth investigation you've got there.

The only fallacy is suggesting that studies would claim every single child of a smoker would take up smoking themselves.

That would be another fallacy. The subject header clearly states what this is about. It doesn't suggest an all-out ban.

Alarmist speculation. Smoking is a unique threat, and it should, and will be be dealt with accordingly.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

"That would be another fallacy. The subject header clearly states what this is about. It doesn't suggest an all-out ban."

No it is yet another step towards it though and it is interfering in another area of people's lives on what they do and where they can do it. Neither this government or any other has the courage or the way to make up the shortfall in finances to outright ban it but they are trying to do it in such a way that it won't be them directly to blame.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

That's just it. It isn't a unique threat.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Any form of smoking whilst driving should be banned. It is yet another distraction along with eating, using a mobile phone, listening to music. How can anyone drive properly is they are doing all that???

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Well, if they were doing all that, they wouldn't actually be driving, as they'd have run out of limbs to actually do anything ;)

The simple answer to how can people drive whilst smoking is simple - if you light your cigarette whilst stationary (either before setting off or while at lights for instance), you're not actually taking your eyes off the road :shrug:

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Of course it is, despite some people's dishonest attempts at comparing it with chocolate and tea.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

I'm with Stu I'm afraid - how exactly is it unique?

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

I don't think it is, having done both I know which one was more dangerous to my fellow road users

No we aren't, smokers generate 5 times more income than they cost

When I smoked I only ever used to smoke in the bathroom and my son was always getting ear infections, when I stopped smoking he didn't get any, I have it on good authority that they were caused by all the crap from smoking getting on his towel, apparently they remain acctive until washed of :(

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Me too....

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

It's quite clear that when you throw it in with coffee, tea, chocolate and other personal "vices" like that, its 2nd hand effect on other people is unique. This is why it was banned in public places where you can harm other members of the public. It's not exactly complicated, is it?

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

It's not. Pollution from cars has killed innocent people. As has drink driving (something which is both illegal and has caused many more deaths that passive smoking).

---------- Post added at 15:13 ---------- Previous post was at 15:09 ----------

Actually, IIRC, it was banned because a lawyer managed to convince a judge that there was a link between lung cancer and passive smoking when someone sued his employer. The government paniced and with no real evidence decided to err on the side of caution.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

What, you mean like drinking can be, and has been, banned in any number of public places in order to, amongst a number of reason, cut down on the amount of antisocial behaviour that it causes, up to and including harm to other people.

As such, one 'second hand effect' of binge drinking alcohol can be seen to be potential harm to another person, thus showing that the effects of smoking aren't unique.

You were right - it wasn't that complicated :)

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

This is the irony of the whole thing. The call is for a ban on smoking in cars carrying children as it is detrimental to their health. If the logic were extended, people wouldn't be allowed to drive their car whilst carrying children.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Again also 2nd hand effects are not limited to just those mentioned other things have detrimental 2nd hand effects but are no where near as restricted. Supremus i get it your a rabid anti smoker and to a point i can even understand though not support your stance but such blinkered viewing of smoking being the only evil is a massive part of the problem in trying to have a rational debate.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Cars are not chocolate, coffee or tea. That would be another fallacy. I answered the question in the context of what you yourself set out earlier. Cigarettes are not even remotely in the same category as cars. Surely I don't have to explain why?

And drink driving is illegal. Are you arguing in favor of legalizing drink driving now, because we're allowed to kill people with 2nd hand smoke? Your defense of smoking is completely illogical.

---------- Post added at 15:19 ---------- Previous post was at 15:18 ----------

I didn't say it was the only evil, but in its category, it's a unique problem, and it will be dealt with as such.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

I'm sorry i simply can't agree it is a unique problem that merits the sort of treatment it is getting. Despite smoking supposedly being in decline for the last 25 years we are having ever higher rates of cancer. There are many things that could be causing this other then smoking but they would require time and money to properly research and analyse and while smoking is such an easy target no one is prepared to do it.

I think you are misunderstanding many of us we are not defending smoking so much as the right of an individual to choose to smoke which is totally different. We know P10 particles from exhaust fumes contribute heavily to asthma and other conditions and we need to find out exactly what other toxins our modern life is producing before we knee jerk react to one single perception.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Why? You are claiming that passive smoking kills people. I am not denying that (I haven't seen evidence it kills people, but it is dangerous). I am claiming that pollution from cars and other vehicles has killed people. Where's the difference? Both are apparently killing innocents.

I am not defending drink driving (as I stated, it *has* killed a lot of people). I merely used it as an example of a reason why smoking is not a unique threat. I also didn't introduce the examples of Tea and Chocolate you appear to take objection to. My earlier post was intended to show that if they ban this, they may decide to ban other stuff they say is dangerous.

---------- Post added at 15:26 ---------- Previous post was at 15:25 ----------

The fact is that it is easier for the government to blame smoking (or anything) for our current problems than actually find and implement a solution. It does seem that the government is keen to appear to do something, but not necessarily so keen to solve any problem.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Stuart your not suggesting style over substance are you not with our government :shocked:.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

I actually didn't say it kills people, I said its effects are harmful.

One of the few things Maggy J got right was that cigarettes fall in the same category as chocolate, tea and coffee. A cigarette ban would not make civilization as we know it collapse the same way a ban on cars would, and there are many, many other reasons why the comparison between cigarettes and cars is completely false, if not outright dishonest.

It's all about context, of course, and I think I made mine clear. If not, I have now.

No, it was Maggy J, but it was a correct comparison, so it's not one you should distance yourself from either.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Blimey..... I go away for a few hours and come back to find all these posts on what I didn't think would be such a contentious subject.

On the one hand I tend to agree with those who despair at the nanny state but, on the other hand, it's clear that a large proportion of people simply aren't responsible adults and need certain of their actions to be moderated. In general, if people want to do stuff knowing/accepting the risks to themselves then so be it, but when their actions put others at risk I say let the state intervene.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Tell me where that attitude stops though Osem because if you look at it like that any activity that is potentially dangerous should be stopped it never ends and we all end up living longer and being bored out of our brains. Government should busy itself with running the country not running the lifestyles of the people it represents and what scares me most i think is the amount of people that seem to be saying they want MORE state intervention in any areas that are not the remit of government. Right now is definately the wrong time to invite government into our personal lives and i am not sure there will ever be a right time.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Well to be fair, I didn't say that everything potentially dangerous should be banned just that certain activities which put others at risk should be better controlled. I would consider parents smoking indoors (or in cars) in the presence of their children to be one such activity but there'd be others.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

yes nugget

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

When someone can categorically show me proof that any long lasting health damage is done i might agree but that evidence does not exist in a verified way. As i said a lot of doctors and scientists are starting to examine other areas for the cause of the problem. Invite a government to trample one freedom you cannot moan when they continue to trample others and sadly governments have a knack of not stopping when they start.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

You need proof? I thought it was basic school stuff. Breathing in smoke is dangerous, full stop. Thats why firemen wear masks, thats why Doctors and Nurses advise agasint it especially people with asthma and such things.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Yes Nugget what?

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Well IF they try to ban chocolate I'll be breaking that law all over the place...I'll take great pleasure in it...:D

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

Smoking around kids should be banned full stop.

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

I would say no... look at home much the gov has done regarding people phoning whilst driving?

Re: Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?
 

The way some kids behave. They should be banned from being in cars.