Smoking

[lostcarpark]

I have never been a smoker, so I can't really relate to the needs smokers have. However, I can relate to how uncomfortable a smoky pub can get for a non-smoker. I've experienced having to get out because your lungs hurt and your eyes are watering. I don't like waking up the next morning and smelling smoke from my pillow (and lets not even talk about the previous evening's clothes).

So I've been in favour of the ban on smoking in all work places since it was first mentioned over a year ago. Actually I was in favour of it before that, but I'd never have thought Ireland would be the first EU country to implement it.

There has been a lot of resistance. Publicans said their businesses will go down the tubes. People who stock vending machines will be out on the street. Air conditioning installers will have to pack their bags (I don't get this one - surely most of the demand for air conditioning is in office buildings).

But it seems support for the ban is on the rise. Apparently 70% of the public is in favour, as are over 40% of smokers. Publicans are now saying that they could see rise in business from non-smokers (well, duh). And according to this web poll, 86% are currently lookign forward to the ban.

I find it really interesting to see how attitudes have changed. It remains to see how it will work out in practice, but two thirds of the population are non-smokers, so why should a minority of smokers be allowed to force everyone endure a smoky atmosphere?

I respect a smoker's right to light up, but only if they respect my right not to breathe the smoke they exhale.

Comments

[jcaswell.livejournal.com]

Couldn't agree more. There's nothing worse than being a non-smoker who stinks of smoke because of other people. And, as an asthmatic, this is fantastic for me. I can only hope England follows suit.

[lostcarpark.livejournal.com]

If you and Chris fancy a holiday in Ireland, give us a shout and we'll put you up. :-)

[jcaswell.livejournal.com]

~You may regret saying that...Ireland's one of those places we keep looking at visiting but never quite get round to it!

[etherealfionna.livejournal.com]

People who stock vending machines will be out on the street
Why is this? Are they not going to sell cigarettes in pubs at all anymore? If that is actually part of the law, then I can understand, but if it isn't, it surely isn't going to have that much effect.

I'm just curious. I'm also curious to see what would happen if, for instance, somebody just got out a pack of smokes in a pub, without lighting them up. I'd imagine the publicans would view it similarly to you getting out some of your own food instead of eating what they sell, although of course it is different. But the general pub-crowd might get quite worked up.

Oh, and another thing I'm wondering - is it smoking inside or on the premises? For instance, if you were in a hotel set in acres of land, do you have to trudge all the way out to the main gate or is standing in the grounds okay?

two thirds of the population are non-smokers, so why should a minority of smokers be allowed to force everyone endure a smoky atmosphere?
Believe it or not, as somebody with an extremely acute sense of smell, I can relate to this. I just wish there was a similar furore about banning people eating foods on public transport, for instance, people not bathing, etc etc.

Actually, I don't wish all that be banned. Just the foods on public transport, that makes me heave. The Tube "asks people" not to eat smelly foods, I was so pleased when I saw that.

[lostcarpark.livejournal.com]

I was looking up some of the rules and guidelines, and apparently smoking is not to be permitted within 6 metres of any door, window or air conditioning intake vent. Whether this will be fully enforced, I don't know. Will people really walk 6m away from the pub door before lighting up?

Employers may provide outdoor somking shelters, but aren't required to do so.

I don't see why there won't still be demand for cigarettes from vending machines. Just people can't smoke in the pub, doesn't mean they won't buy cigarettes for when they go outside. However, there is another law, which will cause them problems when it comes into effect. Retailers won't be allowed to display cigarette packets or any form of advertising. Cigarettes will have to be hidden behind the counter, and customers will have to ask if they have the desired brand. I'm not sure how this effects vending machines, but they won't be the glorious advertising spaces they currently are. I think there was a move to outlaw selling cigarettes by machine because the machine has no way of verifying the age of the purchaser.

But, given the proliferation of soft drink and sweet vending machines all over the place, I think the stockers should gradually find enough extra business to take up the slack.

Actually, there could a market for rebranding cigarette machines to sell nicotine gum and patches...

[wyvernfriend.livejournal.com]

do you have a link for the 6m issue, we have to do something about the porters in our place and regularly people smoke just outside the door - nasty!

[lostcarpark.livejournal.com]

The government site on the topic is here. Have a look at the employers section.

I have some PDFs at work I could email you if you don't find what you want there.

[etherealfionna.livejournal.com]

Uh, 6 metres will only work somewhere you can get that far from a door. Otherwise, who is going to make sure that the people outside one pub's doors aren't the people from the pub 6 metres up the road?

Employers may provide outdoor smoking shelters
Most already do this, don't they? In my experience, when they get annoyed at their front getting littered, and a gang of employees lurking about there looking seedy, they decide it's the cheaper option. Again, depending on them having the space.

Actually, there could a market for rebranding cigarette machines to sell nicotine gum and patches...
Gum maybe, but patches aren't something that you use at a variable rate. And of course, both of them are just another nicotine addiction to move onto, and thus defeat the point. Might as well start selling snuff again. Heh. Now there's something there might be a market in.

I think there was a move to outlaw selling cigarettes by machine because the machine has no way of verifying the age of the purchaser.
One of the local pubs in Innishannon got around this by putting the machine up ridiculously high (actually, I doubt this was the motivation, but you know...) Nothing like completely losing the respect of all the patrons in a pub by having to climb on a stool to use a vending machine.

[natural20.livejournal.com]

The law is concerned with enclosed work places, but I didn't realise the 6m rule mentioned below... intriguing. But in your example you could walk 6m away from the enclosed area of the hotel and smoke there.

As regards the vending machines, it's basically down to the fact that if people can't smoke in pubs then they won't smoke as many when they're out drinking so there won't be the need to buy them in the pub 'cos they can't smoke them there anyway. With the proliferation of 24-hour shops if someone wants to smoke at home they can pick them up pretty easily at night, certainly in the cities and that's where the revenue is.

[lostcarpark.livejournal.com]

Yes, 6m away is fine. I'm sure that many hotels and pubs which have the space will be providing smoking shelters.

I agree that cigarette vending machines will be less in demand. I suspect cigarettes will be generally. But to say it will put the vending machine operators out of business is daft. They might need less staff in the short term, but in every other area their business is booming.

[davesangel.livejournal.com]

I completely agree. I'm tired of going out to Scifi for example and my eyes stinging and not being able to breathe properly and even if I've had a shower before hand I need one afterwards because my hair smells and my clothes absolutely stink. And let's not forget the whole 'passive smoking' thing either.