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Have smoking bans gone too far?

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claire On September 15, 2009




Perth, Australia
#1New Post! Apr 19, 2007 @ 06:53:17
Do you think that recent laws in Australia banning smokers from lighting up on beaches, footpaths and in beer gardens is unreasonable?

My opinion is YES!

Being the only non-smoker in my family, I can sympathise with the amount of flack smokers get when they light up in public.

One night I was in a beer garden, which is usually an outside area were smokers are allowed to smoke, with friends when a man got up and grabbed the cigarette from my friends mouth and started screaming "Stop polluting the world with your bloody smoke!"
I was so shaken by the abuse, I concluded there and then that a total smoking ban in pubs, clubs and public footpaths only promotes intolerance. And given that smoking is legal, I don't think a 100 per cent ban in public areas is rational.

Smokers pay a lot of taxes when they buy cigarettes so why shouldn't they be entitled to smoke in open-air areas?

I understand that non-smokers don't appreciate inhaling cigarette smoke, especially if they are eating or in an enclosed area, but they already inhale other types of pollution on a daily basis.

Non-smokers don't go around abusing drivers who have forced them to breathe in carbon dioxide and other toxic materials that cigarettes are maligned for.

Australia's a democratic society, so why shouldn't smokers have the right to voice their opinions and be able to smoke in designated areas rather than be slapped with a fine just for having a cigarette?
garfunkel On December 29, 2008
my beautiful rescue


Deleted



Sydney, Australia
#2New Post! Apr 19, 2007 @ 06:54:33
I don't care if people smoke, I jsut don't want to have to smell it
MonkeyMadness On April 08, 2015
Lord of your mum





Big Tree, United Kingdom
#3New Post! Apr 19, 2007 @ 06:54:40
personaly i think the bans are a good thing and i am a smoker, but the arsehole grabbing the ciggie from your friends mouth needs a slap
claire On September 15, 2009




Perth, Australia
#4New Post! Apr 19, 2007 @ 06:58:55
Monkeymadness:

Why do you believe the bans are a good idea? I'm interested to hear it from a smokers point of view!
MonkeyMadness On April 08, 2015
Lord of your mum





Big Tree, United Kingdom
#5New Post! Apr 19, 2007 @ 07:01:06
@claire Said
Monkeymadness:

Why do you believe the bans are a good idea? I'm interested to hear it from a smokers point of view!


i have always been aware of how my smoke effects others, i dont think anyone else should have to suffer because i was a bit dumb and got addicted to something that everyone told me was a bad thing
claire On September 15, 2009




Perth, Australia
#6New Post! Apr 19, 2007 @ 07:05:39
Monkeymadness
Quote:
i have always been aware of how my smoke effects others, i dont think anyone else should have to suffer because i was a bit dumb and got addicted to something that everyone told me was a bad thing


Fair enough, I totally understand what your saying. But in saying that, in todays society everyone is pretty much drilled with how bad and addictive cigarettes are. So whilst smokers are well aware that their habit causes other harm, shouldn't bystanders know this too and vacate the area?
MonkeyMadness On April 08, 2015
Lord of your mum





Big Tree, United Kingdom
#7New Post! Apr 19, 2007 @ 07:08:29
@claire Said
Monkeymadness

Fair enough, I totally understand what your saying. But in saying that, in todays society everyone is pretty much drilled with how bad and addictive cigarettes are. So whilst smokers are well aware that their habit causes other harm, shouldn't bystanders know this too and vacate the area?


by stander vacate the area? Well you getting down to who was there first but personaly if someone wanted to do something that could harm their own and others health then they should do it somewhere out of the way why should a bystander move?
Lili On July 12, 2019
....................





Sunshine Land,
#8New Post! Apr 19, 2007 @ 07:10:30
should non-smokers have no choice but to leave an area they would otherwise choose to inhabit because someone is choosing to smoke there? It's not the non-smoker's habit, why should they suffer for it?
MonkeyMadness On April 08, 2015
Lord of your mum





Big Tree, United Kingdom
#9New Post! Apr 19, 2007 @ 07:11:53
@lili Said
should non-smokers have no choice but to leave an area they would otherwise choose to inhabit because someone is choosing to smoke there? It's not the non-smoker's habit, why should they suffer for it?


thats what i tried to say im so lame
claire On September 15, 2009




Perth, Australia
#10New Post! Apr 19, 2007 @ 07:14:06
Well if non-smokers are trying to ban smokers from lighting up in public places, isn't that essentially a form of shafting smokers out of their social scene?

What would happen if someone opened a pub that said no non-smokers allowed?
Lili On July 12, 2019
....................





Sunshine Land,
#11New Post! Apr 19, 2007 @ 07:16:28
That would never happen. You have to consider the reason for the ban: the scientific proof that exposure to second hand smoke is as harmful to ones health as actually smoking. Non-smokers aren't harming others' health by not smoking. This isn't just a case of discrimination, it's an issue of public health. If smokers want to smoke with other smokers they can do so in their private homes.
claire On September 15, 2009




Perth, Australia
#12New Post! Apr 19, 2007 @ 07:20:51
lili:
Quote:
should non-smokers have no choice but to leave an area they would otherwise choose to inhabit because someone is choosing to smoke there? It's not the non-smoker's habit, why should they suffer for it?


Well that works both ways. See smokers are getting banned from smoking in areas they were once allowed to light up, because non-smokers have a problem breathing in toxic air.
So smokers have to find other places to ejoy their addiction.

Not all places these days are smokers welcome. But if your a non-smoker why go to a place you know incorporates smoking and then expect the smokers to leave?
Lili On July 12, 2019
....................





Sunshine Land,
#13New Post! Apr 19, 2007 @ 07:24:12
But smoking is their choice. Non-smoker's don't always have a choice in whether or not they can leave the area - bus stops for example. And of course non-smokes have a problem with breathing toxic air...it's toxic! lol
If you choose to have an addiction, you have to choose the restrictions that go along with it. That restriction being that people don't want to be around you when you smoke. I was your choice, deal with it.
claire On September 15, 2009




Perth, Australia
#14New Post! Apr 19, 2007 @ 07:25:20
lili:
Quote:
That would never happen. You have to consider the reason for the ban: the scientific proof that exposure to second hand smoke is as harmful to ones health as actually smoking. Non-smokers aren't harming others' health by not smoking. This isn't just a case of discrimination, it's an issue of public health. If smokers want to smoke with other smokers they can do so in their private homes.


Why would it never happen? I can tell you why, because non-smokers would say its unfair that smokers have a completely designated area to themselves.
claire On September 15, 2009




Perth, Australia
#15New Post! Apr 19, 2007 @ 07:34:07
So by pressuring smokers to smoke only in their homes, isn't that infringing on the rights of the individuals who live with these smokers who don't smoke, ie children etc?

I live in a house full of smokers and what makes it worse is i have severe asthma.

The people I live with won't smoke outside...so what does that mean for me?
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