"smokers complain about their rights"!

[R1Geezer]

http://news.sky.com/s..._Beaches_And_Streets_
What about our rights, to not breath their poisons?
They've had it all their own way up to relatively recently, yet they still cannot understand why society has had enough of their disgusting filth. Why are smokers so selfish?

[Andyvon]

They are trying to strike a balance to attract foreign currency Mark. My point is that Islamic countries don't have this alcohol-fuelled disaster that we have. I've visited many Islamic countries and lived in a few as a child. I've never seen any sign of alcohol-related problems in any I've been to. I've always felt safe walking the streets with my wife after dark but I wouldn't do that in my home town! I go out by myself every night for a walk but I often see trouble caused by alcohol. Would you be happy to see your wife or daughter walk through your town after midnight? That's alcohol!

I can't understand why smokers are attacked so vociferously but not drinkers. Alcohol abuse takes up 80% of police time. Isn't that alone enough to do something about drink? Alcohol costs the NHS far more money than smoking so why use that argument against smokers? No one is attacked by smokers yet alcohol is responsible for most of the UKs cases of domestic violence. Isn't that alone a reason to discourage drinking? Alcohol is then pushed at children as socially acceptable on TV and in society in general!

I can't understand why people in the western world are so accepting of the cause of so much public and domestic violence and all the associated costs, yet have decided to turn on smokers. Each argument on the cost and effects of smoking are multiplied many times by alcohol.

[Sqad]

birdie 1971

http://www.who.int/inf-pr-1998/en/pr98-29.html

I must have read that same report differently to you, as I thought it said that there was a statistical link between passive smoking and lung cancer.

I may have got it wrong.

[chrissa1]

I SO agree with you Andyvon.

[Sqad]

Smoking AND alcohol are a big social problem in the UK, a problem that may well force significant changes in how the NHS is run and financed.

The smokers have not just been picked on, as a campaign against smoking has been going on since the Report of the Royal College of Physicians produced it´s report showing the link between lung cancer and smoking.

Yes smokers are an easy target...................but they are a target for good reasons as described above.

Binge drinking is as big, if not a bigger problem than smoking, but not such an easy target.
Bang tax on alcohol, severe enough to reduce the consumption and sale of alcohol........the Political Party who had the guts to do that, would never see power again.
Ban the sale of alcohol.....Prohibition style....it never worked in the USA and it would push up the price of alcohol to be sold on the "Black Market"

Yes, smokers are an easier target, but that should not render them immune from legislation.

[WELSHYORKIE]

I thank my lucky stars that I have given up both - nearly 11 years for the fags and 20 years for the booze

[B00]

"t does annoy me though when I sit outside either at a cafe or a pub and have non smokers sit there coughing and complaining tbh it just makes me what to light up again and blow smoke in their direction - wrong and childish? Yes! Satisifiying Oh yes! "

I love Helen :-)

[Sqad]

red..
<<< I feel that smoking out of doors is a step to far.<<
I do indeed have some sympathy with that comment of yours.

<<<<It does annoy me though when I sit outside either at a cafe or a pub and have non smokers sit there coughing and complaining<<<

I empathise with that comment too.

Spain has really hit the smokers hard and they seem to have accepted it,in that they sit "huddled up" in the cold having their breakfast. However, come the summer, the non smokers will want to sit in the sun outside.....the domain of the smokers.

;-) should be interesting.

[20ParkDrive]

Fat birds who drink have a bigger chance of breast cancer should we ban fatties from public places till they loose some weight. It has been on the news and is in the papers today sod their freedom think of the lives we will save.

http://www.dailymail....blamed-huge-rise.html

[B00]

Nice to know us smokers are fighting back, and not cowering in the corners as we used to do.

Viva la revolution!

[20ParkDrive]

Think of the cost to the NHS all these motorcyclists cause just because they want some freedom. There is no excuse for riding a bike make them drive a car or get a bus, these are much safer forms of transport.

[Davethedog]

Andyvon - "I can't understand why smokers are attacked so vociferously but not drinkers" The reason is that all smokers polloute but not all drinkers are anti social, in fact the problem drinkers are so in the monority as to be insignificant, however 4 blokes of 18 go and have a drink, go home and never offend anyone doesn't make many headlines.

As a non smoking, smoker, I gave up a long time ago, i find the hysteria about smoking ridiculous, I can understand enclosed spaces but outside?? I am sorry but smoking has been socialy acceptable for hundreds of years, the government gain huge revenues from it and if they really wanted to they could stop it. Instead they pay lip service to the thought police whilst grabbing the cash.

When you leave your house you lay yourself open to the general populace and eveything that may hurt or offend you. I think that people sometime really need to evaluate what they are thinking but more so what they are reading.

[anotheoldgit]

I haven't smoked for a number of years, so I haven't a particular axe to grind.

But until smoking is made illegal I will defend a persons right to smoke.

What gives the anti-smoking lobby the right to turn smokers into social outcasts, just because they are doing something perfectly legal, which they disagree with?

Imagine the outcry from some women, if a mainly male group tried to get obnoxious perfumes banned in public places? And don't say they are not a health hazard, I beg to differ, because some make me physically ill, if I am forced to breath them in, in closed surroundings.

Regarding the vehicle fumes argument, have you ever looked over any large city from a height? You will then see what pollution is all about, and one is breathing that in 24/7.

[seadogg]

Right on AOG. Had days ruined by sitting near women loaded with nasty scent. A research chemist told me what was in it and not surprised it makes us feel bad. A pipeful of Black Shag used to do the trick but now you would have to be on a mountain top to smoke it!

[Sqad]

AOG

<<<<But until smoking is made illegal I will defend a persons right to smoke<<<

I agree..


<<<because they are doing something perfectly legal, which they disagree with?<<<

Not quite the whole story........smoking is only legal under certain situations.

<<<health hazard, I beg to differ, because some make me physically ill,<<<

Not a long term health hazard and purely transient.

<<<Regarding the vehicle fumes argument, have you ever looked over any large city from a height? You will then see what pollution is all about, and one is breathing that in 24/7.<<<

I agree.