I’m a rare breed methinks. I don’t know how many people were in England during the time of their non-smoking switchover and in Wales during the time of theirs. I mean, it’s not the sort of thing that you say to people, I know. But I think it’s a little impressive.
Either way, I have lived through 2 months of smoke free public buildings, and these are my observation, done in a handly list. The people who have benefitted, and the people who have lost out.
Who Benefits?
- Non Smokers - obvious one straight off the bat. Non smokers don’t come home smelling like they’ve been ejaculated on by chimneys. I love this part of the smoking ban.
- Smoking companies - surprisingly, a lot of people I know have taken up smoking. The logic behind it is now all their mates are heading out for a fag, nobody wants to be left alone, do they? It’s happened to me a few times and I go out and join them (most bars have areas where you can drink outside), but I know of a few people who have solely taken up smoking for the social side of it. Yes, it’s wrong, yes it’s against everything they ever taught you at school, but that’s what’s happened. Of course, when the winter comes and we get cold weather, will we see those people still smoking? Only time will tell.
Chefs - EVERYWHERE does food now, I walked down Colwyn Bay high street and all the bars there had signs outside advertising their new menu. This is to make what were one step up from working men’s club a more family friendly place. Of course, with a new menu somebody has to cook, and chefs are highly desirable in the bars in Wales, commanding fairly high wages, especially for around here. These are also not your typical gastropub, or pub chains, these are like pubs you purely go and drink in, or used to.
Who loses out?
- Clubs and Bars (but in a good way for us) - say if I wanted chips on a night out. Before, I’d leave a bar and go to the chip shop. If the bar had an entrance fee, tough shit, I paid twice. Now I get a stamp on my hand and get back in, bonus! I know a few of my mates who have gone around the bars at around 7pm, got hand stamped in each, and not paid a penny in entrance fees. This is a good thing.
- People who chew gum - I chew gum all the time, and it’s a bugger as there are no ashtrays now. Okay, may sound a bit stupid. But what happens when people want to quit? I mean, one of the ways people quit smoking is to chew nicotene gum. Either people will be socially put off from chewing gum in pubs and just think “fuck it, if I’m going outside, I may as well smoke”, or there will be a lot of chewing gum underneath the tables in bars.
- Children - As my mate says “You can’t smoke in clubs and pubs, but you can smoke in playgrounds.”. I know most playgrounds have no smoking signs, but people can and do ignore them (I’m going on my local playground here). Also, you can still smoke in your own home.
All in all, I’m very happy that the smoking ban has come into force. People who say it’s an “infringement of liberties” should realise that having smoke blown into my face is an infringement of liberties. What’s your opinion on it?
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Rhys Wynne, the author of this blog, is a 20 something web designer from Colwyn Bay.
I don’t know if the laws there are different to the ones that just kicked in here; but i’m anti-them. They should have it so there must be at least one designated non-smoking area… or one designated smoking area. It’s a joke, smokers are such a huge part of society and I think it’ll negatively effect pubs and clubs all over.
Plus, who doesn’t like the occasional fag with a couple of slaps of the pokies?!
Interesting post. In the states, we are slowly adopting smoking ban policies too. Personally, I’m not a smoker. Never been. Most likely never will be. But I have a lot of friends who are smokers and I feel bad for them.
On one hand, I guess it’s not fair to subject someone to something harmful against their wishes (second hand smoke). On the other hand, I feel bad for ppl who smoke because now they have to find special places to light up, which is usually away from the party.
Not a smoker. As for this ban, about bloody time IMHO!
I’m pro - have been enjoying the Welsh ban and am really looking forward to being able to go to English pubs and not have to inhale.
Also, having spent the weekend in Cork, it seems to have developed a cafe-culture kind of thing, with heaters and awnings, which is really nice. We were saying how good it would be if the UK developed something similar in response to the smoking ban here.
I really am pleased about the ban too simply because it means my laundry bills will be wayyy less thanks to not having to wash my clothes which stink of fags after a night out.
My smoker friend pointed out she gets longer breaks now because by the time she has walked out the building, found a designated smoking area and walked back in again it adds about ten mins onto the time.
1) Shocking Rhys, think of the poor buggers who had to clean out your gum every time you stuck it in an ashtray….
2) The ppl who really win? Really well and truely win? The manufacturers of outdoor heaters. Sales will be through the roof
I have hated the fact that smokers get a lot more break time than none smokers in the office. We should be allowed to go for a walk round the building every hour or so, but if we tried it without having a cigarette… well we wouldn’t get away with it.
I also remember years ago when people smoked in the office and everyone had ashtrays on their desks, so you went home stinking of smoke anyway.
Went to a pub last night, a usual typical old man’s cut the smoke with a knife typed atmosphere. This morning I put on the same jumper from last night. Awesome!
We’ve had very strict anti-smoking bans in California for years. You can’t even smoke within 20 feet of main entrances, exits, or operable windows, or even on public sidewalks unless the smoker is walking. And certainly not anywhere indoors in a public place. Some communities have outlawed smoking at beaches because of the people who can’t be bothered to dispose of their cigarette butts in a responsible way, and choose instead to litter the beach like a big ashtray. I am totally happy with these laws. Since people are not considerate enough or addicted or whatever the excuse, apparently laws had to passed to protect the rest of us from the dangers of second hand smoke. I don’t care if people smoke, as long as I don’t have to share it with them. I don’t think this is too much to ask.
It is not financially viable, I’m going to have to do something drastic. We work in our own office, and have always smoked whilst we worked. Now we have to stop working and leave the building. With the weather the way it has been, we then have to dry ourselves off before we can go back to work.
In praise of the smoking ban…
It is now three months since smoking was banned in enclosed public places in England, bringing it into line with the rest of the UK. I have to say that, while Tony Blair’s government have been unpopular on some issues, and have been criticised fo…