When Keir Starmer came to power he promised a politics that would 'tread more lightly on our lives', but this suggestion of an outright ban on smoking in public places is a direct contradiction of that.
And given that pubs are places where anyone can go to get a few hours of peace and enjoyment and to indulge their bad habits, all this does is to reinforce his image as something of a too-serious kill-joy!
An own goal...?
The problem with choosing this particular policy is that there is no united campaign group clamouring for an outside public ban. And there is no real health benefit to it either - it's relatively easy for non-smokers to avoid inhaling the smoke of smokers sitting outdoors!
It's really just unpleasant for non-smokers rather than a health risk...
Worse, it may divisive, it certainly got the media hit-up debating it: around 50% are for it, 50% against, and that's precisely what politics doesn't need.
And now the discourse is on Labour as the nanny state. People are wondering what's next... a ban on crisps or chicken shops, I've heard that a few times.
The ironic thing is those are probably worse for the nation's health than the side effects of passive outdoor smoking!
Final thoughts... we should just leave our smokers to puff away in peace!
Britain's tough anti-smoking practices are already sufficient to let smoking drift away in the longer term...
The indoor ban, ENORMOUS taxes (it's pushing £20 for a box of 20 these days) have already been enough to see smoking rates plummet, and IF it gets enacted the age-phased outright ban on sales should be enough to kill the habit altogether a few decades down the line.
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I do not also support smoking in public places, aside no health hazard, it just tend to portray bad image. Children sometimes might be around in public places and some innocent ones might think its a norm
Yes fair point, I just think this is gonna fade away whatever policy changes we make!
well, smoking and giving up smoking are complex things, takes an average of 37 attempts to give up. would be great if everyone was able to stop but people have many and complex reasons including stress management, getting some time to themselves, and having a cigarette one of the few things they have a choice over. A lifelong non-smoker (was horrified as a small child hearing a radio programme about the connection between smoking and cancer and fearing my dad was going to die), I dislike the hounding of people who smoke. I query whether this is the priority right now?
37 attempts, that is mad! I'm almost at my 38th so maybe next time!
I think that's my point, it's not a priority, no one is calling for it, so why go after it, bigger fish to fry!
I think there should be smoking corners in public in every country so that non-smokers wouldn't inhale even smoke of smokers as even itself is disgisting for a non-smoker.
Oh I agree... it should be firmly segregated!
I am on board with the Ban x)
I hate it when I walk behind someone smoking in Public. They can do it, but the smell and me inhaling it is shit and I don't get why its still legal.
It'll die out in the longer term on current policy anyway I think!
That would be a shame, but properly :D
😳 What a weird expression!
My moment to jump in and explain that German can be superior: Eigentor
Now that that's out the way 😛: Sometimes I feel sorry for people, who don't smoke.
But when I quit for a while, the smoke started bothering me, too.
Today, I advocate for a conscious use of tobacco.
However, politicians advocating for more state control can just get #%$§&.
Down to the individual I think with this one, for sure!
An own goal is quite a common one!
I'd be happy if cigarettes just vanished from earth, living in the most smoking country on the planet, I've had enough of the sound of perpetual 'hawk tuah' of smokers clearing out their cancerous throats every 2 minutes.
That being said, the nanny state is real. Once upon a time, things like this were 'looked down upon' by society until it vanished or disappeared into the privacy of one's home out of shame, without the need for government and police intervention.
Bring back shame, I say!
Smoking is pretty grim - overt mass disapproval underrated I agree!
let's be honest, jimmy saville's mate is a clueless fucking wanker