Ummmm, I don't know what the policy is now but with regard to smoking and drinking but I remember that they used to recommend that you didn't smoke or drink for at least an hour after donating., However I used to donate on a Sunday morning session and the local pub used to be full of people with the tell tale plaster smoking like chimnies and replenishing their body liquids
I did regularly but they won't take mine anymore due to autoimmune issues and being on immunosuppressants.
I wish I could again and pop in every now and again just in case the situation has changed as living in Leeds and Manchester was so handy as they have an actual centre to go to rather than just sessions.
It was a shame that they were limited in open hours though as if you work a normal 9-5 weekdays then you can only go lunchtimes which is when they are busiest and they don't open weekends. Shame more workplaces don't give time off to give blood as it is so quick.
I'm sure if they went round a lot of the big city firms and got them to allow staff the time to go and give blood they would get a great uptake.
I tried to do platelets too back when I could give blood but I don't have enough.
It's so sad that so many of the people who want to can't and vice versa.
Both mr ys and myself were regular donors until they brought in the 'no blood if you've had a transfusion since 1980' rule (that applied to me as I had one in 1983 after birth of first son) and then mr ys developed polymyalgia rheumatica and has been on steroids ever since. We were gutted but it was offset by son no. 2 becoming a regular donor :0)
I used to give blood and it always made me feel healthy the day after,once when I got there it was discovered that i was anaemic,however I asked them if I could still give some explaining why,The nurse took half a pint while I was sat in a chair then threw the blood away.