10 Years Since Ireland Showed Us The Way To Deal With This Filth.

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26785369
Most of the civilised world now has some sort of smoking ban, hard to believe it was only 10 years ago, seems like an age. I just find it unimaginable that people used to smoke in pubs once. Thanks Ireland.

[ummmm]

I was actually surprised the smoking ban in Ireland worked so well. Even on Clare Island where they have no police it was strictly enforced.

I smoke and have always supported the smoking ban.

[Milvus]

We often see that banning smoking in pubs has caused the closing of many pubs in England. Personally i think £3.50+ a pint ended it for me

[Mamyalynne]

Combined with the rise in beer prices and rents charged by Landlords, the smoking ban made my friend decide to leave her home and business of 30 years (a pub) the couple who took over lasted a year - now a beautiful building circa 1465 stands boarded up.

However, as a smoker I support the ban in pubs etc even though it curtailed my nights out.

[anneasquith]

many people stopped going to pubs when the smoking ban started and began drinking at home . which I believe has contributed to the increase in alcohol consumption of some people, ie cheaper and larger measures consumed.

[craft1948]

I've not been in a pub since the smoking ban, doesn't bother me..........

[ummmm]

Most pubs have really nice smoking areas.

[douglas9401]

MOST pubs ummmm? They have even nicer smokeless areas though.

[ummmm]

It's not like they are huddled outside exposed to the elements.

[Baldric]

It's almost impossible nowadays for a non-smoker to sit out in a beer garden without having to put up with smokers upwind of them.

[douglas9401]

"It's not like they are huddled outside exposed to the elements."

It's exactly like that in many cases. Still, serves them right eh?

[ivor4781]

funny really this directive came from Brussels where you can, and i have smoked in bars recently in the city centres

[weecalf]

I think all this smoking thing has become rather a drag

[Svejk]

hopefully it'll run out of puff, soon, weecalf.

[mikey4444]

I think that the link between banning smoking in public places, and the closing of Pubs is largely spurious and is just an excuse. My two local Wetherspoons are always busy, everyday of the week. I can remember that similar statements were made when Barbara Castle brought in the breathalyser in the 60's. Only about 23% of adults in Wales, where I live now smoke, so isn't that another way of saying that 77% don't smoke ?

The days of Pubs and restaurants stinking of smoke, with every table covered in cigarette ash and overflowing ashtrays are gone forever.

Yes, cheers Ireland !

[B00]

"It's almost impossible nowadays for a non-smoker to sit out in a beer garden without having to put up with smokers upwind of them. "

Can't smoke inside and now whine about them smoking outside too? LOL!

[Svejk]

i was thinking that, boo. god knows what we'll be allowed to do if some got their fascist or socialist dictatorships.

[Old_Geezer]

I have sympathy with Baldric's viewpoint. IT is now more pleasant to be in a pub, but the garden was nice in the warmer days and of course it is now completely taken over by those no longer allowed to smoke inside, which spoils it. Not that I have a good solution, at least not until folk no longer take up this practice voluntarily. Unlikely in my lifetime.

Meanwhile, have to say I am amazed that for most of my life the ban wasn't already in place. When I think of the number of times I had to endure some inconsiderate smoker in a meeting. Couldn't concentrate on what the meeting was about. We have certainly moved on since then.

[mikey4444]

Like most people, I don't smoke but if anybody else wants to, let them do what they want. Just as long as I am not inconvenienced by their habit.
I don't visit Pubs very often these days but the ones I do seem to have provided somewhere for smokers to go, which is the way it should be.

I use cafes more than Pubs and I was always amazed when you saw a table with 4-6 people sitting at it, and 2 would be smoking, while the rest would still be eating ! My local village cafe, which is well patronised by us, has recently said that the smoking ban is the best thing ever, as they don't have to redecorate as often as they used to do. They have also said that trade has increased, not decreased since the smoking ban was enacted in 2006, a year before England. You can smell the food cooking, rather than fags being burnt.

[grumpy01]

Outside some establishments smokers are congregated around the door and non-smoking customers like me have to "run the gauntlet" of cigarette smoke.

[4getmenot]

i gave up two years ago. but i remember having a lock in once and being able to smoke and it was so strange. i will often still go outside with the smokers to socialise.