Sat in the pub last night (Dave Betton excellent by the way, ever get the chance to see him, go!) for the annual dart and domino presentation night and the raffle was in full swing. Won a bottle of Vladivar vodka (fantastic, can't drink the stuff now! ) and the general ritual is scrumple up the tickets right..? Anyway, I'd noticed something missing all night but couldn't quite put my finger on it, till it came to this part... There was no ashtray to dump the tickets into!! Had to make do with an empty pint glass instead!

How inconveniant! They'll have to make special 'Raffle Scrumpling Trays'

Sales of cigarettes where I work are down. Mostly only young people under 20 buying them at the moment.

Lol Soapy! Made me laugh, but still better than having smoke blown into you face all night hey?

xxx

I am glad they have banned smoking as i dont like breathing other peoples smoke and smelling of it as well. ( I am one of the guilty ones that use to smoke  but at the time i did not realize the effect on other people.)

it seems to me most comments are from non smokers but i know many people who find the ban a problem. i have a disabled friend who enjoys smoking but finds it difficult to stand outside the pub but also doesnt enjoy her pint as much without a ciggie. why there couldnt have been provision for a smokers bar and a non smokers bar I dont know. I know it is bad for one but surely it is a personal choice, why do we have to be directed in our lives so strongly. freedom of choice could include both smokers and non smokers. It is not stopping our young people from taking up the habit, in fact I would say that by making it so unacceptable in public acts as an encouragement for quite a number of children. I know nothing will change now, and there will no doubt be a rush of protest at this but I honestly feel that there could have been some way for everyone to have been accomodated

Aquitain

I agree, it annoys me at how people have been going on about how much rubbish is on the streets since the smoking ban, what about all the crisp packets and Sweet papers let alone all the chewing gum stuck to our pavements and yet they pounce on the person smoking and fine them £75 for dropping a cigarette butt on the floor, And that's on top of the £50 they maybe charged if found smoking in a public place. How much money does the government want to make out of smokers. And if that's not enough I here people say smokers shouldn't get treatment from the NHS if they smoke, do these people realise the huge amount of money smokers pay into the NHS through the tax payed on a packet of cigarettes, I'm sure the NHS would be in serious trouble if it weren't for the smokers funding it. If the government wants people to stop smoking why don't they ban it out right, The answer is they WONT! not while there making so much money from smokers, sly Hippocrates.

HI JONIBOBS, I TOTALY AGREE WITH YOU , A LOT OF PEAPLE DONT SEEM TO REALISE THAT WHEN OUR LADIES AND GENTS WERE IN THE SERVICES FIGHTING TO GIVE US ALL A BETTER LIFE THE GOVERMENT WERE GIVING THEM FREE CIGARETTES, NOW THEY WANT THEM TO GIVE IT UP YOU SPEAK TO SOME WHO HAS SMOKED FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS OR SO AND THEY WILL TELL YOU IT'S FAR TO DIFFICULT TO DO, BUT I MUST SAY IT IS NICE TO GO IN TO MY LOCAL CLUB AND NOT COME OUT SMELLING LIKE AN ASHTRAY.  I DO FEEL THOUGH THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOMEWHERE FOR THESE PEAPLE TO GO FOR A CIG WITHOUT THEM HAVING TO STAND OUT IN ALL WEATHERS OR AS A LOT OF PEAPLE ARE DOING STAYING AT HOMEAND SOCIALISING WITH THEIR PALL'S.

 

I QUIT A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO AND ITS THE BEST THING I EVER DID,NOW I CANT STAND PEOPLE SMOKING ROUND ME OR THE SMELL OF THEM WHEN THEY HAVE SMOKED OUTSIDE,THANKFULLY I DONT DRINK ALCOHOL BUT IM NOT BOREING EITHER,I THINK,NO ONE SHOULD SMOKE NOWADAYS KNOWING THE EFFECTS IT HAS ON OUR HEALTH.I USED THE PATCH AND NEVER LOOKED BACK.FROM YVONNE IN IRELAND.X

patadge:

HI JONIBOBS, I TOTALY AGREE WITH YOU , A LOT OF PEAPLE DONT SEEM TO REALISE THAT WHEN OUR LADIES AND GENTS WERE IN THE SERVICES FIGHTING TO GIVE US ALL A BETTER LIFE THE GOVERMENT WERE GIVING THEM FREE CIGARETTES, NOW THEY WANT THEM TO GIVE IT UP YOU SPEAK TO SOME WHO HAS SMOKED FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS OR SO AND THEY WILL TELL YOU IT'S FAR TO DIFFICULT TO DO, BUT I MUST SAY IT IS NICE TO GO IN TO MY LOCAL CLUB AND NOT COME OUT SMELLING LIKE AN ASHTRAY.  I DO FEEL THOUGH THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOMEWHERE FOR THESE PEAPLE TO GO FOR A CIG WITHOUT THEM HAVING TO STAND OUT IN ALL WEATHERS OR AS A LOT OF PEAPLE ARE DOING STAYING AT HOMEAND SOCIALISING WITH THEIR PALL'S.

This is what I always say regards the goverment giving them out freely during the war.

I am now a non smoker of just 5 weeks with the help of patches,so far so good,but I do agree that its NO-ONES right to tell you what to do,and before anyone shouts its also no-ones right to have to make others breath  smoke  whatever happened to this so called "free country"? well its going to the dogs well and truely.When I did smoke I was a conscientious smoker,i.e.not smoking near people that didnt,at food tables,etc,I do know there are some ignorant people,but its not like that for everyone.

Yes have designated places for smokers,I quite agree they pay more tax than anyone so should have equal rights.

Just for the record anyone trying to give up,DO put the money you'd spend onto a jar and watch it grow,its a great incentive.

dee2uk:

patadge:

HI JONIBOBS, I TOTALY AGREE WITH YOU , A LOT OF PEAPLE DONT SEEM TO REALISE THAT WHEN OUR LADIES AND GENTS WERE IN THE SERVICES FIGHTING TO GIVE US ALL A BETTER LIFE THE GOVERMENT WERE GIVING THEM FREE CIGARETTES, NOW THEY WANT THEM TO GIVE IT UP YOU SPEAK TO SOME WHO HAS SMOKED FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS OR SO AND THEY WILL TELL YOU IT'S FAR TO DIFFICULT TO DO, BUT I MUST SAY IT IS NICE TO GO IN TO MY LOCAL CLUB AND NOT COME OUT SMELLING LIKE AN ASHTRAY.  I DO FEEL THOUGH THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOMEWHERE FOR THESE PEAPLE TO GO FOR A CIG WITHOUT THEM HAVING TO STAND OUT IN ALL WEATHERS OR AS A LOT OF PEAPLE ARE DOING STAYING AT HOMEAND SOCIALISING WITH THEIR PALL'S.

This is what I always say regards the goverment giving them out freely during the war.

I am now a non smoker of just 5 weeks with the help of patches,so far so good,but I do agree that its NO-ONES right to tell you what to do,and before anyone shouts its also no-ones right to have to make others breath  smoke  whatever happened to this so called "free country"? well its going to the dogs well and truely.When I did smoke I was a conscientious smoker,i.e.not smoking near people that didnt,at food tables,etc,I do know there are some ignorant people,but its not like that for everyone.

Yes have designated places for smokers,I quite agree they pay more tax than anyone so should have equal rights.

Just for the record anyone trying to give up,DO put the money you'd spend onto a jar and watch it grow,its a great incentive.

I WISH YOU LUCK

i think its brilliant walking into a pub and seeing all the poor smoker having to stand outside.

they didn't give a stuff about us non smokers in the past when you would get someone walking past in a crowded pub and putting a cigarette burn on your new £60 shirt or on your hand.

 

It is swings and roundabouts really.

A big unexpected bonus of the smoking ban is the absolute belting crack you have outside with the other social lepers. I have got to know people I would never normally speak to in the pub just because we have both been outside. Misery loves company in the rain and cold especially!

A massive downside though is the overpowering smell of B.O in the pub because it is not being covered by the smell of nicotine.

Quite frankly I support the ban and I never expected I would.

I there i think the smoking ban is a good idea!! Even though i'm a smoke myself i hated the though of other people breathing in the smoke i was blowing out the only thing that i hate now is that the pub have lost alot of people and it's not the same anymoreI'm trying to give up but finding it really hard

aquitain:

it seems to me most comments are from non smokers but i know many people who find the ban a problem. i have a disabled friend who enjoys smoking but finds it difficult to stand outside the pub but also doesnt enjoy her pint as much without a ciggie. why there couldnt have been provision for a smokers bar and a non smokers bar I dont know. I know it is bad for one but surely it is a personal choice, why do we have to be directed in our lives so strongly. freedom of choice could include both smokers and non smokers. It is not stopping our young people from taking up the habit, in fact I would say that by making it so unacceptable in public acts as an encouragement for quite a number of children. I know nothing will change now, and there will no doubt be a rush of protest at this but I honestly feel that there could have been some way for everyone to have been accomodated

Aquitain

So, what happens then when you don't smoke and only a couple of the group do? You all go out together for the evening, do the smokers sit with you in the non-smoky bit or do you sit in the Smoky bit?

Face facts, it kills, it smells, its antisocial, ITS banned thank God -- get over it!

gbee:

aquitain:

it seems to me most comments are from non smokers but i know many people who find the ban a problem. i have a disabled friend who enjoys smoking but finds it difficult to stand outside the pub but also doesnt enjoy her pint as much without a ciggie. why there couldnt have been provision for a smokers bar and a non smokers bar I dont know. I know it is bad for one but surely it is a personal choice, why do we have to be directed in our lives so strongly. freedom of choice could include both smokers and non smokers. It is not stopping our young people from taking up the habit, in fact I would say that by making it so unacceptable in public acts as an encouragement for quite a number of children. I know nothing will change now, and there will no doubt be a rush of protest at this but I honestly feel that there could have been some way for everyone to have been accomodated

Aquitain

So, what happens then when you don't smoke and only a couple of the group do? You all go out together for the evening, do the smokers sit with you in the non-smoky bit or do you sit in the Smoky bit?

Face facts, it kills, it smells, its antisocial, ITS banned thank God -- get over it!

dont be so sanctimonious, smokers were encouraged to smoke with advertising making it look glamorous, once addicted it is very hard to pack it in...can think of a few things that are more objectional,exhaust fumes, spitting in the street, cheap nasty perfume, bad body odour,drunks, coughing and sneezing without using a handkerchief, and i agree with the main writer, should have areas for smokers .no i dont smoke but a lot of my friends do.