Smoking in public places....

[Loosehead]

It now seems that the debate is about a total ban or a ban in places where food is sold. Personally I prefer the total ban as per Ireland, otherwise it's open to abuse, what do others think?

[corosanta]

In NZ, we have a ban on smoking in work places but not a total public ban. Works well if you don't mind the old style pubs going broke and the proliferation of illegal drinking/smoking dens. An ammusing aside is that the same political party that pushed for the ban in the first place is now pushing to make it legal to SMOKE cannabis. DOH? So how do we all feel about drugged out pot smokers driving their cars about? Or is that another thread?

Cheers, Corosanta.

[simsfreq]

I think it should definitely be up to the establishment themselves. They should clearly mark it on the outside of the premises and warn anybody who wants to work for them. This seems fair to me, it gives people a choice. Of course it's open to abuse. A lot of things are abused, that's the way society is. To be honest a total ban would be open to abuse too, as a lot of things are. I also agree with the argument that children should not be allowed in a smoking establishment, it should be their descision to smoke or not when they are old enough. Establishments with smoking and non-smoking areas don't work, we should have separate buildings. I don't think businesses where smoking is banned would lose money, due to the sheer volume of people who want it banned completely. A lot of people want to go out and not be breathing in smoke, a lot of other people enjoy smoking or prefer the atmosphere in a smoky pub. We should respect everyone's opinion and give them the freedom of choice.