ban urged on smoking

Hmm banning smoking because it costs the NHS £1.5 billion. I wonder how much all the immigrants cost the NHS per year. The costly medicine for AID's alone. Banning something that make's them 9.5 billion a year yea make's sense

[Bhoona]

Originally Posted by kronas

the lancet medical journal has urged the government to ban smoking in the uk totally it published its findings which have suggested passive smoking kills and the fact that its costing the NHS £1.5bn pounds to treat smoking related illnesses

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3292979.stm

the report does go on to mention smoking is a £9.3bn revenue generator although in my view a complete ban to add it to the illegal substances list as suggested would be something i would completely back as it kills many people in the uk who dont even smoke but the loss of revenue may make the government think twice about a ban

OK...

say you have never commited a crime. You are a genuinly good person in every way, but you smoke.

Then the government we have decides to make something that has never been illegal, illegal. Knowing that it is a highly addictive substance, that to quit takes a lot of well and self decipline.
So this person now becomes a CRIMINAL. I don't think so.

As a smoker, I desagree.
There needs to be more education given to really young children, so that they don't smoke as adults. But they can't just ban it out right.

If they do, then they might as well ban booze too. Its the cause of anti - social behavior in every way. Screw it, why not ban salt and fat too.

What ever happened to the idea of free will?This state gets worse and worse for the nanny attitude.Ban this,ban that.Everytime they do,the problem ISN'T solved it's just hidden away.Banning handguns has not stopped gun crime at all has it?
Anyway the prohibition of alcohol in the 20's in the US proved that it just isn't possible.After all we have a complete ban on drugs and where has it got us?Drugs are just as prevelant as ever.

And what next?Ban red meat?Ban cheese.They are both high in animal fat-bad for your health and cause high cholosteral which is bad for your arteries so the heck with it let's ban them.Ban all sugar as it rots childrens teeth.

You know ladders are really dangerous.Did you know an enormous number of people fall off them each year and are seriously injured.I think we should put a health tax on them to stop people using them.

You know people are still using ladders so I think an outright ban is a good idea.

I have an even better idea.WHY don't we TEACH people about the DANGERS of using ladders and how to use them safely.What's that?Revenue to pay for the training? How about using all the ladder tax we have collected to educate the masses.

Sorry about the rant but this committed non-smoker of 51 years(and non ladder user) thinks the idea of an outright ban is stupid.
I DO however think the banning of their use in all public spaces is a good idea as would be the TOTAL BANNING of drinking and driving.It's a shorter term goal that might just be adhered to by the majority of people.

I want a government to treat me like I'm an adult not a child.

Incog.

[trebor]

there's a problem with banning smoking, if they do they will have to ban drinking as well. how much money do drunken idiots cost society each year. all those fights outside pubs and clubs the policing costs and hospital bills must be a lot. and lets not forget the drunk drivers, there wouldn't be any if booze was illegal.

[Nor]

If they ban smoking it'll definately hit the governments coffers. As a non smoker who feels sick when smoked around I would dearly love a ban on smoking in public places. If smokers want to smoke in the privacy of their own home I don't think they should be prevented. If they are stupid enough to smoke and happy enough to pay £2000 a year for the privilege of 20 a day its fine by me.

[Nor]

Incognitas. I will never understand those arguments that surround the issue of just because other things kill you we shouldn't tackle one of them.

With regards to ladders and food, they are neccessary. Smoking is not. Also.. when you eat cheese or red meat you do it yourself. When you climb a ladder you do it yourself. When you smoke you damage the health of those around you who haven't chosen to accept the risks of your habit. Why should I have my health damaged by someone who smokes ?

[Nikko]

Originally Posted by Nor

When you climb a ladder you do it yourself. When you smoke you damage the health of those around you who haven't chosen to accept the risks of your habit. Why should I have my health damaged by someone who smokes ?

Please dont stand under my ladder, whilst I smoke, with that attitude - I might, in a moment of consideration, check on the smoke rising away from others due to heat rising, and fall off, landing on you with an acceleration of 9.81 m/s/s.

When will the do gooding non smokers stop trying to force their viewpoint on everyone else?

How the feck can someone smoking in their own home possibly affect any of you?Because this is what a total ban would mean.I think that to persist in this is just one group of people trying to force their attitudes onto others.

I'll fight for people to have the freedom to choose in private whether they smoke,eat what they like,worship how they like.How can it possibly affect you under those circumstances?

Like I said originally what ever happened to free will and freedom of choice?
Non smokers be content with the victories you already have.No smoking at work and a ban in public areas all seem very sensible suggestions to me.Anything more than that and you begin to look vindictive.

If it is just a matter that you think that smokers should pull their collective financial weight in regards to the NHS then let's persuade the government to put more of the tobacco revenue into the NHS and into BETTER education about health risks plus get around to truly helping/funding nicotine addicts to give up VOLUNTARILY.

Incog.

[Nor]

Who are you arguing against Incog ? Think its obvious that the majority would want a ban in public but are quite happy for smokers to kill themselves privately.

Originally Posted by Nor

Who are you arguing against Incog ? Think its obvious that the majority would want a ban in public but are quite happy for smokers to kill themselves privately.

Sorry if I seem a bit strong in my opinions but we are all sometimes guilty of that aren't we Nor?

I just worry that smokers are not given all the help that THEY need to give up.It is a chemical addiction and an outright ban is not the way to get them to become unaddicted.However I have seen gradually over time how they have been hounded in the workplace and now in public places.I just feel that when they are at home in private they shouldn't be victimised further.

What we do in the privacy of our homes should be our own business.How many other activities could be banned for the good of society as a whole?Where would it end?

I haven't forgotten the story of a man who having got a super new job at a wonderful firm that had a firm no smoking policy confessing to someone at the place that he was hoping that the no smoking rule would give him the necessary push to finally give up.That woman was the boss's wife and the wonderful new job was no longer on offer to him.

He hadn't even been smoking on the premises but he lost the job.

Incog.

[Nor]

We can all pick extreme examples to unbalance the argument though mate.

I agree with what you've said in the main, that smokers should be helped to give up and not persecuted. It is their free choice to smoke, but I don't agree that its their free choice to smoke in public places and thereby remove others free choice not to breathe in the smoke from their habit.

Completely agree whatever people do in the privacy of their home, providing it doesn't negatively affect others, is upto them and nobody should interfere.

Originally Posted by Nor

We can all pick extreme examples to unbalance the argument though mate.

I agree with what you've said in the main, that smokers should be helped to give up and not persecuted. It is their free choice to smoke, but I don't agree that its their free choice to smoke in public places and thereby remove others free choice not to breathe in the smoke from their habit.

Completely agree whatever people do in the privacy of their home, providing it doesn't negatively affect others, is upto them and nobody should interfere.

well we seem to agree on everything thus far though I don't recall saying that smokers had a right to smoke in public places.Quite the reverse.

The only thing we are likely to fall out about is that I would rather not be called mate.Incog,missus,madam,you,boss,she who must be obeyed and or goddess will all suffice.

Incog.

[Ramrod]

Originally Posted by Nor

Think its obvious that the majority would want a ban in public but are quite happy for smokers to kill themselves privately.

I am concerned for the kids of all those 'private' smokers.

[Ramrod]

Originally Posted by Incognitas

The only thing we are likely to fall out about is that I would rather not be called mate.Incog,missus,madam,you,boss,she who must be obeyed and or goddess will all suffice.

Incog.

'Aesha' it is

[Nor]

Originally Posted by Ramrod

I am concerned for the kids of all those 'private' smokers.

Aye very true.