"LONDON (Reuters) - Smokers in Northern Ireland risk a 50 pound fine if they light up in pubs, offices and other indoor public places after a smoking ban came into force on Monday.
Businesses can be fined up to 2,500 pounds if they fail to enforce the ban, which spreads to England from July 1. Scotland, Wales and the republic of Ireland have already outlawed smoking in many public places.
Ministers say the ban has overwhelming public support and could save hundreds of lives each year, but opponents called it draconian and do not believe it will improve the nation's health.
"People do not want to breathe in other people's smoke," said Health Minister Paul Goggins. "By reducing our level of exposure, this legislation will improve health and save lives.
The ban covers taxis, public transport, shopping centres, hospitals and many other public places.
Businesses will have to display "no smoking" signs and dozens of council officials will enforce the ban.
Hundreds of portable plastic ashtrays have been handed out to encourage people not to discard cigarette ends in the street.
Belfast City Council said smokers could be fined 50 pounds for littering if they drop a butt on the pavement.
Some pub owners have built patios with gas heaters to allow smokers to have a cigarette outside. One chain reportedly offered hypnotherapy sessions to help customers quit.
About nine out of 10 people in Northern Ireland support the ban, according to a survey of 70,000 people.
The Ulster Cancer Foundation welcomed the ban, but said more action was needed to persuade people to kick the habit.
"Going smokefree is a platform for further action," said Gerry McElwee, the charity's head of cancer prevention. "This is only the first step to improving the health of local people.
Forest, the smokers' rights campaign group, said the ban would do little to encourage people to give up smoking.
"The ban makes Northern Ireland a less liberal, more intolerant place," said the group's director Simon Clark. "Tobacco is a legal product and it is very sad that there is not a single pub, club or bar in the country where anyone can light up without being fined."
ID:30127
 Apr 30 2007, 2:24 am
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Apr 30 2007, 2:28 am
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Acebloke
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I think its a good thing.
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Yeah. Our right to smell bad, have yellow teeth and die of lung cancer isn't one I'm going to be too inclined to defend.
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Not so long ago, a similar ban was enacted here in the State of Ohio, and was the topic of a little discussion around here...
Those opposed to it kept saying things like "well, if people don't want to inhale smoke, then they should just not frequent smoking establishments" There's not much to refute that statement... Where one eats, drinks, etc. is a matter of choice, and we're free to patronize a (voluntarily) non-smoking establishment and keep our noses out of those that allow smoking... But shortly after those discussions died down, I ran across a different angle that I hadn't previously considered: these bans aren't so much for the customers, but rather the employees... They're intended more or less as "safe workplace" laws... Yes, the previous argument of "well, these people can just get jobs elsewhere" is tempting, but not really strong... If we limit the number of viable jobs by forcing non-smokers to find work in (voluntarily) non-smoking businesses, we severely hamper the fight against unemployment... By banning smoking everywhere, we allow everyone to go after any job they desire, with no unnecessary prerequisite of "is that a smoking allowed establishment?" | |
Good point.
But I think it can be expanded- it shouldn't be that if people don't want to inhale smoke they should go elsewhere, it should be that if people want to inhale smoke they should go elsewhere. Surely the burdon of finding a suitable place should be on those who are actually doing the disruptive, unhealthy activity? It's like with Deadron and his feud with guitar boy. It shouldn't be up to Deadron to move house to a place with no noise, it should be up to the guitar boy to move house to a place where no one would mind the noise. | |
Ireland has pubs?
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But there are some areas, like pubs, that smoking is assumed, and actually part of the expected atmosphere. I can understand a ban in many public places (like supermarkets and gas stations, and many restaurants), but pubs?
Then again, if I want to go and drowned myself in toxic liquids, I don't want toxic gases coming along and ruining it. Because, surely, the smoke will kill me sooner than liver disease, right? | |
Smoke should not be expected in any atmosphere that I'm expected to breathe in.
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The days of the speakeasy are long gone, but the days of the smokeasy are just beginning! It's a swell place to take your doll and cut a rug!
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'CAUSE THE LAND OF LOVE AND FREEDOM, IS JUST A BABY'S BREATH AWAY, AND IF WE HOLD HANDS TOGETHER, WE CAN BRING BACK THE USA. THE YOOU EESSS AAAAYYYYYYYY.
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Elation, your not expected to breath it in, but you are also not expected to go to pubs.
On top of everything, I have still yet to hear a clonclusive study on second hand smoking. I know that I have lived in a house with two smokers for my whole life, and I don't believe it has adversely affected me. Sure, the smell stinks, but it is an annoyance. It's like you are going to a concert and complaining about the music being too loud. Pubs are places for people to sin(By the federal since of the word, not religious), so you take it all or you take nothing. I don't smoke. I don't plan on starting. I have been trying to get my mom to quit for years. But I still believe in a person's right to smoke. Especially in a place where smoking has always been the norm. | |
Disgusting oppression. Banning it from densely crowded areas doesn't bother me too much, even though non-smokers have pleanty of places to go (they don't need to go to the smoker's areas but they do anyways and then bitch about it because they're selfish), but my problem is it leads to even more ludacris laws, like banning it from outdoor areas which is just insanely retarded.
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Kunark wrote:
(they don't need to go to the smoker's areas but they do anyways and then bitch about it because they're selfish) How would YOU know? Anyway, I'm for this ban, because no one wants to breathe in other people's smoke. Elation wrote: Yeah. Our right to smell bad, have yellow teeth and die of lung cancer isn't one I'm going to be too inclined to defend. That too. =P | |
ok you guys are pretty dumb
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i agree to the ban sounds like a great idea
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