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

[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.