Scotland Smoking Ban

[Loosehead]

Anyone in Scotland, what's it like? are there masses of downtrodden smokers huddling in groups outside the bars?

[aeu99217]

Also when is the ban coming in force down south?

[Drisgirl]

aeu - I know whats happening.I just thought that in retrospect his idea was a good one and would have pleased everyone.Like - when I go out with my man who smokes he could go through to the 'Smoking Room' and have the craic while having a drink and a fag rather than having to stand outside like he has to do in Eire where he works.Too late in Scotland - July next year in England I believe.

BTW aeu - its freezing where I am and it been constantly p!shing down all week hailstones - the lot.I'm near Perth and I can assure you where I live its little Glasgow because of the berries so I'm watching out this weekend as well - mind you they dont need any excuse for a fight where I am.

Its early days yet - lets see what its like in a few weeks - I'll catch up with you and we can compare - OK?

[aeu99217]

cool. i'm going out this saturday, so we'll see what the town's like. Perth's even colder than glasgow, ive got a friend from dunkeld, picturesque place, until you meet the locals!

[Drisgirl]

aeu -my daughter sociales there - eeek:)

Catch up with ya!

[Drisgirl]

socialises - what the hel1 u knew what I meant:)

[aeu99217]

Well, went out last night to cca and sauchiehall st seemed fine, no more trouble than usual, but it did seem a lot quieter esp. for a pay weekend. Managed to get a taxi in 20 mins, unheard of at the weekend!

cca has a wee beer garden bit so smokers found it ok cause the weather wasn't too bad. But i was at a gig at barfly and you had to go outside and couldn't take a drink, But inside it felt like a mix between a youth club and a church rock night. imagine oasis starting out and singing 'cigarettes and alcohol' at a gig, more irony than rock and roll.

One thing that is good for smokers is that it creates a wee community outside speaking to people you normally wouldn't if you were inside. I was told by a few people that divorce rates in Vancouver and in Ireland went up after their bans cause of the increased socialising of smokers outside!!!

Also was in a beer garden on friday day with heaters, about half the people were non-smokers!!! If non-smokers don't want to breathe our 2nd hand smoke, stop following us!!!

[Drisgirl]

aeu - I said I would get back to you.Glad Glasgow as Ok.We were fine - in fact no-one spoke about it just went out had a fag and came back in.Pub was just as busy and you're right the huddle at the door of the pub were having a good laugh.

Only concern now would appear to be leaving your drink and it potentially getting spiked or lifted by the bar staff thinking you were away.I must admit the drink spiking never crossed my mind so I think there are people - quite rightly - going to lobby McConnell regarding this aspect.Maybe just putting your drink behinfd the bar would be enough - I dont know.

All in all - no probs really:)

[aeu99217]

yeah, at barfly the staff are explicitly not allowed to look after your drink, probably because of legal responsibilities if it got spiked. But im not sure that drinks being spiked is such a big problem in Glasgow. But i suppose if an epidemic of it breaks out we'll find out.