Do they have a leg to stand on?

[Loosehead]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6914503.stm

Do you think the legal challenge has any merits? If they are sucessful do you think pubs will be allowed to have "shisha" smoking? Will the ciggy smokers adopt the shisha pipe?!

[jno]

the reason for the smoking ban was the dangers of secondary smoking to others rather than any risk to the smokers themselves (people can still smoke at home, after all). So I guess the question is whether shisha smoking harms others. If not, I can't see why they shouldn't be allowed to go ahead. Couldn't they set up as private smoking clubs or something?

[Loosehead]

jno, smoking is not allowed even in private clubs. The challenge they are making is based on an "exemption" due to cultural significance. The smoke is tobacco smoke so on the original basis it should not be allowed but I was wondering if they did allow it, whether it could become a vehicle for re introducing smoking by the back door as it where.

[Goodsoulette]

I dont think it will be allowed. Its still smoking.

On a similar note the only starbucks you can smoke in are in Kuwait for this very reason.

[jno]

well, I hope that wouldn't happen. We used to have a smoking room in the office, which I was able to avoid. Now they all hang around outside the back door; it doesn't smell any better but I have to hack my way through the smog to get inside. So I'm all for banning it in public. But I don't see why you shouldn't be able to invite fellow smokers into your living room whether it's for hubble bubbles, cigars or Craven As. I suppose it's charging for it that turns it into a place of business and makes it illegal?

[China Doll]

I really, really used to like shishas. Went through a stage of smoking them all through uni. I think I really liked a strawberry flavoured tobbacco off the top of my head... might have been cherry.

And setting them up and hearing the bubbly noise was always fun too.

Long and shorts of it all though are that it still produces secondary smoke and if memory serves is still really rather bad for those around you so I'm not sure the legal challenge has any merits.

And yes, if introduced in pubs you will more than likely find me sitting there quite happily.... preferably on a big pile of cushions in sunglasses giving out guru type advice.

[Loosehead]

Jno, it's if someone works there. If it's private house then fine.

[NikkiB]

I don't smoke and I loathe the aroma. However I do think it's unfair that pubs etc don't or can't set aside smoking areas. Rather than cut down on smoking (which the govt don't realllly want as they get so much tax from it) it may lead to binge or unsocial drinking elsewhere. How healthy is that?

[Le Chat]

I am a non smoker but I went out for a meal with 9 friends last week. During the meal and between courses about half went outside for an 'inter-course' cigarrette, which left the non-smokers in a scatter formation at the table. It really cheesed me off as there were similar situations going on at other tables too!
After the meal and in the bar, it was just easier for all of us to stand outside, rather than having half of us going missing for 15 mins every so often! So much for the smoking ban encouraging sociability! lol !

[jno]

thanks, Loosehead. I'm a devout non-smoker, but I can't see why people shouldn't do what they like among consenting adults.

[helpmetoo]

i spose the government will cave in again in favour of a minority group,
if they do on religious grounds who wants to join my new religion and petition ?

how about puffers for jesus?
a rule of the religion is that at all times we are free to smoke cigarettes when facing north east!

join now......