Smokers watch out !

[Deleted account DD]

from the papers today..............

"Councils are planning to ban smoking in parks, using the government’s new Localism Bill to fine smokers. It is the first evidence here of a move towards the zero-tolerance policy practised in some parts of the United States.
Councils and National Health Service trusts are targeting areas such as play parks to make “smoking history for our children”.
Bill Wearing, head of Cumbria council’s health and wellbeing committee, said: “Nobody wants to see anyone smoking near children’s play areas. It is getting to a stage where people think it is socially unacceptable in parks. Once it becomes socially unacceptable, it becomes a lot easier to bring in laws.”"

[fridgman]

I am a smoker (or was until 8 days ago!:augie) and I agree if they mean kids play parks. If they mean big open green spaces designated as a park just because it has a fence round it and a council sign then no.
I knew the current smoking policy was just the thin end of the wedge. Alcohol causes just as many problems and cost, if not more, but I don't see them banning that.

[briggie]

ive heard a rumour , its going to be illegal to fart in public places soon :augie

[clivvy]

i dont smoke, but i cant see the issue here. Kids areas yes, but open public parks??

[R1cho]

If this goes ahead and banning smoking on the streets you can say goodbye to our pub industry

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8607067/Stony-Stratford-set-to-ban-smoking-in-all-public-places.html

[fridgman]

If this goes ahead and banning smoking on the streets you can say goodbye to our pub industry

I thinks it's mostly had it in some areas anyway! With supermarkets hammering them there's very little left other than the weekend binge drinkers, and they'll be next!

[clivvy]

I thinks it's mostly had it in some areas anyway! With supermarkets hammering them there's very little left other than the weekend binge drinkers, and they'll be next!

just drive around, its now more common to see a closed pub than it is to see an open one!

[Deleted account DD]

the main problem with pubs is that they cant compete for drinks never mind fags.

[illy]

Hang on a minute befor they stop people smoking in parks wouldent it be a good idea to stop kids smoking in and around school, surely if they can see people in parks they can see kids near school. Mind you they can ban it altogether for me

[lacroupade]

But can you imagine trying to enforce this?

[Liam]

But can you imagine trying to enforce this?

Thin end of the wedge,Paul. Precisely because it will be difficult to enforce, even more stringent laws will need to be introduced, further removing people's freedom. Over hete they are considering banning people smoking in cars where children are passengers. Enforcing that one would probably mean cameras outside schools,shopping centres,parks,football grounds etc. Oh,almost forgot,they have cameras in most of those places already.
This is the way governments chip away at our freedom,one piece at a time,until one day you are a slave.

[jims-terrano]

Liam, we are all slaves already and have been throught history. As for the camera's "Big Brother" allways knows where you are or have been. Doubt there's a day goes by without being on CCTV or NPR systems. How about your own personal tracker being fitted at birth? why not most of volunteer to be tracked by owning and carrying around mobile phones and these often have GPS too.

Back on topic, I have to say that I find pubs a whole lot more pleasant now. Agree with keeping smoking away from children. Also agree that smokers have freedom to smoke if they want but also smokers should be aware that non smokers have feedoms too. At the end of the day the authorities will never stamp smoking out by making it illegal. I guess often children are introduced to smoking and passive smoking in their homes. How can this be stopped?

Jim

[Liam]

Liam, we are all slaves already and have been throught history. As for the camera's "Big Brother" allways knows where you are or have been. Doubt there's a day goes by without being on CCTV or NPR systems. How about your own personal tracker being fitted at birth? why not most of volunteer to be tracked by owning and carrying around mobile phones and these often have GPS too.

Back on topic, I have to say that I find pubs a whole lot more pleasant now. Agree with keeping smoking away from children. Also agree that smokers have freedom to smoke if they want but also smokers should be aware that non smokers have feedoms too. At the end of the day the authorities will never stamp smoking out by making it illegal. I guess often children are introduced to smoking and passive smoking in their homes. How can this be stopped?

Jim

Have to agree Jim, Democracy is just another word in the dictionary, doesn't mean anything. I can't remember a time when I could get up in the morning and just do what I chose to do. Maybe someday, but probably not within the next millennium.

[briggie]

The earliest recorded case of a man giving up smoking was on April 5, 1679, when Johan Katsu, Sheriff of Turku, Finland, wrote in his diary "I quit smoking tobacco." He died one month later