punky, you seem not to understand the realities of those in low wage economies. choice is not by any means a given.
as for suggesting its insulting to people when i say that they dont have a choice to work in a smoking pub, that is frankly, arrant nonsense. i'm not demeaning the job in any way - its tough (split shifts etc) and can require great diplomatic skills (hey orangebird is your mother anything like you? ;-) ) but people mnight have to take a job in a smoking pub out of necessity.
pubs are public places by definition. just because they are places of work does not make them any less public.and public places are subject to all kinds of jurisdiction as foreverwar pointed out pages and pages ago. this is simply another restriction designed to protect public health, including staff (whom I bang the drum for the most because i really dont accept that choice is always there). and govts for aeons have taken steps to protect public health so i think prevention of inhalation of benzene, nicotine etc etc is just continuing a fine and well established tradition.
sometiomews the public need protecting from themselves and other members of the public - you'll find reams and reams of legislation demonstrating that fact.
anyways this thread is getting incredibly tedious and going around in circles, enlivened only by orangebird's amusingly intemeperate interjections
its happening people. get over it. move along, there's nothing to see here.....
