Should smoking in the street and outdoors be banned?
Discuss issues that have a social and cultural impact, including but not limited to issues such as racism, teenage pregnancies, the social impact of religion, and the state of the education system.
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Re: Should smoking in the street and outdoors be banned?I think it should definitely be banned on pavements and other "enclosed" outdoor spaces where there is heavy footfall, but not in parks etc.
I also think it should be banned in private homes where children are resident (not particularly enforceable no, but it being illegal should at least make parents stop and think about the effect they are having on their children a bit more).
Comparing smoking to exhaust fumes is just ridiculous. For a start, the presence of one pollutant doesn't therefore justify you adding in a second plus they serve a useful, if not essential for many, purpose and cannot be moved to a different location away from people (whereas smoking can). Though incidently, I strongly support the legislation we have for reducing car pollution and think that needs to go much further as well (including increasing the provision of pollutant-free public buses etc.).Last edited by callum9999; 01-02-2012 at 15:53. -
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Re: Should smoking in the street and outdoors be banned?Disagree with this.(Original post by callum9999)
I think it should definitely be banned on pavements and other "enclosed" outdoor spaces where there is heavy footfall, but not in parks etc.
I also think it should be banned in private homes where children are resident (not particularly enforceable no, but it being illegal should at least make parents stop and think about the effect they are having on their children a bit more).
Agree with this.(Original post by callum9999)
Comparing smoking to exhaust fumes is just ridiculous. For a start, the presence of one pollutant doesn't therefore justify you adding in a second plus they serve a useful, if not essential for many and cannot be moved to a different location away from people (whereas smoking can). Though incidently, I strongly support the legislation we have for reducing car pollution and think that needs to go much further as well (including increasing the provision of pollutant-free public buses etc.). -
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Re: Should smoking in the street and outdoors be banned?Whilst I've never found a really definitive source for figures, most places seem to suggest that:(Original post by Tahooper)
It would save the NHS a lot of money, but if you ban tobacco and alcohol, a lot a tax revenue would be lost, so the taxpayer would need to pay more.
Besides, the prohibition-era in America just goes to show that banning alcohol will never have it's desired effects.
the amount of duty paid by smokers > amount spent on smokers by the NHS. -
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Re: Should smoking in the street and outdoors be banned?(Original post by knowledge.messiah)
WHy isn't it made illegal (along with alcohol) as it will save the NHS millions each year as nobody will be killing themselves :/
Similar to banning junk food because overweight/diabetic people cost the NHS too, and skateboards because they can cause injuries, and cars because they cause crashes...If everybody was sensible, ate well and took no risks we'd save the NHS an incredible amount, but it's not really practical. Plus haven't I heard the taxes on cigarettes actually earn them similar to what smokers cost the NHS? (That may be wrong though)
I think smokers should just be more considerate, because I agree it's annoying when you're sitting in a bus stop and suddenly somebody lights up and irritates everyone around.
I don't know why, when the smoking ban came into place, they didn't just allow pubs to build vented rooms at their own expense - seems so practical... -
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Re: Should smoking in the street and outdoors be banned?New York did it. Obviously I'm sure it's widely flouted, but it would be hard to argue that it hasn't resulted in a reduction in outdoor public smoking.(Original post by thegodofgod)
Pointless - would never happen - too many smokers (and possibly others) would oppose. -
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Re: Should smoking in the street and outdoors be banned?A box has 4 sides, a floor and a roof so technically you'd be smoking inside so make sure that box isn't in a public place(Original post by Electronica)
So people should be allowed to smoke so long as they are by themselves, in a box, with no social contact whatsoever. Great.
You do know that although you can smell smoke outside, the effects of passive smoking are dramatically reduced in an outdoor space. -
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Re: Should smoking in the street and outdoors be banned?I don't mind it until they breathe it on me! If they want to smoke fine that's their choice but standing right next to me and practically blowing it on me sends me into a fit. This results in me asking them nicely to not smoke in my direction but inside i'm thinking.....
B***H THAT'S MY NEW COAT YOU STINKIN' ALL UP
IMA SLAP YOU!
Banning smoking in my city would be like a massive episode of Jeremy Kyle.
Last edited by Linzikins; 01-02-2012 at 15:57. -
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Re: Should smoking in the street and outdoors be banned?I knew that, I wasn't trying to imply smokers are more of a burden on the NHS then taxes are a burden on the smokers.(Original post by mikeyd85)
Whilst I've never found a really definitive source for figures, most places seem to suggest that:
the amount of duty paid by smokers > amount spent on smokers by the NHS.
The way I see it as long as the non-smoking taxpayer is profiting from the sales of tobacco products and alcohol the smokers can smoke as much as they please
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Re: Should smoking in the street and outdoors be banned?I know it's ridiculous. I use it as an example because of how ridiculous it is. Though if we had a half decent public transport system in the UK, the ban would be a brilliant thing. I'd support it. Far, far, far too many cars on the road when there are alternatives.(Original post by callum9999)
Comparing smoking to exhaust fumes is just ridiculous. For a start, the presence of one pollutant doesn't therefore justify you adding in a second plus they serve a useful, if not essential for many, purpose and cannot be moved to a different location away from people (whereas smoking can). Though incidently, I strongly support the legislation we have for reducing car pollution and think that needs to go much further as well (including increasing the provision of pollutant-free public buses etc.).
Aye, I was more adding to your post - I could have made my intention a little clearer tbh!(Original post by Tahooper)
I knew that, I wasn't trying to imply smokers are more of a burden on the NHS then taxes are a burden on the smokers.
The way I see it as long as the non-smoking taxpayer is profiting from the sales of tobacco products and alcohol the smokers can smoke as much as they please
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Re: Should smoking in the street and outdoors be banned?And because they are easily taxed(Original post by ily_em)
Odd argument considering many drugs are banned here that are arguably less dangerous than cigarettes and alcohol
The only reason they aren't illegal is because they are so ingrained in our society imo.
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Re: Should smoking in the street and outdoors be banned?Fair enough.(Original post by mikeyd85)
I know it's ridiculous. I use it as an example because of how ridiculous it is. Though if we had a half decent public transport system in the UK, the ban would be a brilliant thing. I'd support it. Far, far, far too many cars on the road when there are alternatives.
I agree with that, though I think, like most people, you're a bit unfair towards our transport network - it's actually remarkably good in my opinion (yes it's outclassed by a few European countries, but it's easily amongst the best in the world in my opinion).
The trouble is that more people won't use public transport until it improves, but public transport won't improve until more people use it! The government is going to need to take a big, unpopular hit to radically reshape it, and I don't know if the political will is going to be there any time soon.
But in the meantime, I do think the network (buses in particular) needs to be radically cleaned up in the short term. While electric/hydrogen buses etc. do still require fuels that (currently) produce lots of CO2, it is removing the pollutants from the densely populated areas. Whatever your beliefs on climate change etc. - I think that on it's own is a good enough reason to do it.Last edited by callum9999; 01-02-2012 at 16:05. -
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Re: Should smoking in the street and outdoors be banned?Aye, but then, there are no states where all drugs are legal as far as I'm aware, and we are far from Authoritarian. Beyond ingrained social issues as regards drugs, we are not Authoritarian, in that I don't think we'd ever consider banning smoking altogether and so forth. Though we do need a far more liberal attitude to drugs(Original post by ily_em)
Odd argument considering many drugs are banned here that are arguably less dangerous than cigarettes and alcohol The only reason they aren't illegal is because they are so ingrained in our society imo.
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Re: Should smoking in the street and outdoors be banned?No it shouldn't. It would be impossible to police and wouldn't be followed by everyone. I don't mind people smoking as long as they don't blow it in my face on purpose.
The thing I personally cannot stand is the smell of people smoking drugs outside. It's horrid. -
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Re: Should smoking in the street and outdoors be banned?I tend to go inside the pub for some fresh air these days(Original post by StarsAndBoulevard)
Maybe not ban it outdoors but I think at least move the smokers away from doorways. Having to walk through a smoke curtain when you go outside isn't nice
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Re: Should smoking in the street and outdoors be banned?I don't smoke, it's not up to me.(Original post by TheCaledonian)
A box has 4 sides, a floor and a roof so technically you'd be smoking inside so make sure that box isn't in a public place
IMA SLAP YOU! 
