Smoking Ban Breaches

Chrissy

Does anyone know who you report smoking ban breaches to?

Where I'm from, there's a particular taxi firm who thinks they're above the law & allows smoking in their taxi's all the time.

Nomally these taxi's are minibuses & they're packed full of people. The vast majority are smokers & the windows don't open.
Our taxi journey can be 15 mins to 2.5hrs depending on whether we're on our way out or coming home.
If sitting at the back of the taxi, you can't see the front of the taxi from all the smoke, my eyes are streaming with water, I can't breathe & I stink of smoke.
When everyone else has to abide by the rules I don't see why this firm should get away with it.
(I can't change taxi firm as they're the only ones who service my area)

Separately:- there is also a local pub that allows everyone to smoke in it without any restrictions.
Unless I have to go to this pub for some reason, I stay away. But again, why should this pub be allowed break the law & do what it wants when no one else can.

It seriously pisses me off & so I'm wondering who is the responsible body for regulating this.

dimerocks

your local health board i think. not sure though.

Gordon Gekko

Call the Office of Tobacco Control Lo-Call Compliance Line.

lodgepole

Have you made a complaint to the driver or the owner?

Chrissy

Lodgepole wrote:

Have you made a complaint to the driver or the owner?

Yes,
Driver assumes I have a few drinks on me & just calmy says sush (i.e.don't be making a fuss with the other 20 people that's on the bus who are smoking)

In the pubs case:- the owner is sitting smoking with all the customers so obviously couldn't give a flying fcuk about the smoking ban!!!

Thanks Gordon Gekko:- I found that after I posted this, so I have made a complaint, not that I have much faith in anything actually being done about it.:(

Sleepy

Something tells me you're going to be popular around town for the next few weeks!

Chrissy

Yea, I know, but I don't care. Just SO fed up of it at this stage.

so ok, leaving the fact that I despise smoke being blown around me, it's not even fair on smokers everywhere else.

I mean:- if you're out at the weekend & you smoke. If you get a taxi somewhere & it takes an hour:- you have to put up with your cravings for the whole duration, while my lovely neighbours just smoke away til their wee hearts are content, smoking as many as they want.

Then you get to the pub:- everytime you want a fag, you've to leave your seat (& possibly a group of non smoker friends) & go stand outside in the absolute freezing cold, smoke your fag as quick as you can, while possibly shivering uncontrollably, or possibly getting drenched (depending on how good smoking facilities are) while my lovely little neighbours can just sit up against the fire in their nice comfy chair, with all their friends & just puff away on their fag.

Hardly fair as supposedly we're in the same country, governed by the same rules, so enough's enough.

connundrum

"In 1972 a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire the A-Team."

I don't think anyone would chance striking up a sneaky one with Mr T about TBH.

But on a less serious note, I used to manage a pub and when the smoking ban came in we had major problems with people not taking heed and we did actually try and call the guards once only to be laughed at and told "Its not our problem as its not actually a crime".. so what we had to do was bar anyone who insisted that it was their right to smoke, as if a complaint had been made about us to the Health Board (which we later found out) then we could be liable for a couple of grand.

I would definitely persue it though!

Siogfinsceal

make an anonymous complaint to the number gordon gekko listed that way people wont know it was you and give you grief

Chrissy

Jeez,

I actually thought from posting this that I'd get a load of "don't be such a drip" type abuse, so I'm actually quite surprised that I'm being incouraged.

I sent an anonymous email & I got one back to say my 2 complaints have been past on for investigation & thanking me for reporting them.

So now to see if complaining actually makes a difference.

rubadub

connundrum wrote:

we did actually try and call the guards once only to be laughed at and told "Its not our problem as its not actually a crime"..!

That is disgraceful. Wonder if they would have laughed at you if you rang and said a guy is in the pub with a spray canister full of toxic gas spraying it amongst the customers. There are a few garda stories on boards lately that have disgusted me, treating the public like inferior stupid idiots.

I have only been in one pub where somebody lit up, the bastard was nearly lynched.

Siogfinsceal

no-one shoul dbe callign you a drip. theres plenty of places where people can smoke - I mean smoking areas have actually become quite nice in a lot of places! but a taxi is not the place for it - its dangerous as well as being illegal

I find it funny how since the smoking ban even the smallest whiff of smoke draws righteous indignation and complaints about ill health. The same people a few years ago were happy to sit in eye wateringly smokey pubs without complaint.

Listen if my grand dad can smoke 30 majors a day since he was 12 years old and has just celebrated his 82nd birthday, still works a 8 hour day 5 days a week and is as good heath if not better than most people his age, a slight whiff of passive smoke from time to time is going to do you no harm.
If it does, I'm sorry but something else was probably going to do you in besides smoking.

I know two people who died of cancer in their 40s, non smoking, non drinking and little stress.
If its in your genes you are screwed. Simple

Chrissy

Ronoc:- not once did I mention health issues!!!

It doesn't get up my nose for that reason, never has. I just hate the smell of smoke in my hair, the smell of smoke on my clothes the next morning, the water running down my eyes & the fact I can't breathe in the taxi because it burns my throat.

(We're not talking a bit of passing smoke here I can assure you. You honestly can't see the front of the taxi from the back of the taxi, it's horrible)

dalk

ronoc wrote:

The same people a few years ago were happy to sit in eye wateringly smokey pubs without complaint.

I certainly wasnt 'happy' with it... Just put up with it, which is a different thing altogether.

ronoc wrote:

Listen if my grand dad can smoke 30 majors a day since he was 12 years old and has just celebrated his 82nd birthday, still works a 8 hour day 5 days a week and is as good heath if not better than most people his age, a slight whiff of passive smoke from time to time is going to do you no harm.

My gosh, your right! We should just ignore all the medical research because of your grandad. This is going to turn smoking related cancer research on its head. All because of your grandad!

ronoc wrote:

If it does, I'm sorry but something else was probably going to do you in besides smoking.

Are you making a profound statement like "We are all going to die someday"? Such insight. Never realised until now.

rubadub

Chrissy wrote:

Ronoc:- not once did I mention health issues!!!

exactly, everybody keeps coming up with these arguments about studies showing passive smoking is harmless. I do not want people burning plant matter in an enclosed space near me. It makes me cough and stinks up clothes, be it burning tobacco, cannabis or garden leaves.

seamus

Thanks ronoc. I knew those 30 years of cancer research were bull**** :rolleyes:

connundrum

ronoc wrote:

The same people a few years ago were happy to sit in eye wateringly smokey pubs without complaint..

Without complaint? Cop on tbh.. my eyes used to stream with water whenever I was workin or went out, and yes it was my choice to work and go out but a) it was my only means of making a living for a while and b) coupla years ago people would laugh at the suggestion of a house party.

ronoc wrote:

Listen if my grand dad can smoke 30 majors a day since he was 12 years old and has just celebrated his 82nd birthday, still works a 8 hour day 5 days a week and is as good heath if not better than most people his age, a slight whiff of passive smoke from time to time is going to do you no harm.

Cop on x 2. Your Grandad is a very lucky man, passive smoking does harm.. did they just make up the figures to prove the harmfulness of it?!
You are going to try and justify your habit to prove to yourself that its not as bad as people make it out to be.. heroin addicts do the same thing :rolleyes:

dirtyharry1971

Listen I'm an ex smoker and will admit I get a bit pissed when too many people are smoking around me but when ur on a fooking coach coming home from a fooking club/pub you just have to sit back (grind ur teeth if u see fit) and ACCEPT IT!!! Let the smokers have this at least there pretty much exiles wherever they go in Ireland these days. And please don't play the "passive smoking is killing me card" Your coming home from a pub/club (health goes out the window) all them voldkas and red bulls aint doin you much good or the chicken curry you will probably devour when you get home. If U play in the mud U gonna get dirty he he
:rolleyes:

rubadub

my granda lived in a house full of asbestos and died age 129. All these people were absolutley delighted to live in houses full of asbestos before, but nowadays if a builder tries to put in just a small amount all these righteous bastards start complaining :v:

rubadub

dirtyharry1971 wrote:

when ur on a fooking coach coming home from a fooking club/pub you just have to sit back (grind ur teeth if u see fit) and ACCEPT IT!!! :

Why not tell them to accept the ban?

dirtyharry1971 wrote:

If U play in the mud U gonna get dirty he he
:rolleyes:

but it is illegal to have "mud on the pitch"

connundrum

connundrum wrote:

Cop on x 2. Your Grandad is a very lucky man, passive smoking does harm.. did they just make up the figures to prove the harmfulness of it?!
You are going to try and justify your habit to prove to yourself that its not as bad as people make it out to be..

Granted, but the research on passive smoking is not as cut and dryed as you might think. A few studys have found no evidence that passive smoking causes any ill effects. And then there is the problem of what passive smoking is, its very difficult to quantify.

But passive smoking is one of those noble causes that is persued because it is seen to reduce harm no matter how little it may cause in reality.

connundrum wrote:

heroin addicts do the same thing

And hitler too, right back at you:rolleyes:

connundrum

dirtyharry1971 wrote:

but when ur on a fooking coach coming home from a fooking club/pub you just have to sit back (grind ur teeth if u see fit) and ACCEPT IT!!!

How about no, its an offense. When I drink a redbull & vodka I make a point of not spilling it over everyone, when eating a curry I eat it at home as I know that a bus is not the appropriate place to be having a bleedin curry, besides it will smell up the whole bus (but thats an aside). Sit back and accept it?!? Pffft.. :rolleyes:

ronoc wrote:

And hitler too, right back at you:rolleyes:

Sense.

Chrissy

dirtyharry1971 wrote:

when ur on a fooking coach coming home from a fooking club/pub you just have to sit back (grind ur teeth if u see fit) and ACCEPT IT!!!

No I won't accept it. It's illegal & therefore I have a right not to.

Like I said, it's not because of health (because as you say with all the vodka in me that'd be a bit hypocritical of me) but because I can't hold my breath for 2.5hrs, which is what I'd have to do on my way home from a night out, if I was to 'ACCEPT IT'.

The law made no expections, so there are no exceptions!

rubadub

ronoc wrote:

A few studys have found no evidence that passive smoking causes any ill effects.

So the coughing is placebo effect? I find most burning matter giving off smoke makes me cough which I do not enjoy. Am I also imagining the stink from my clothes or are your studies only concerned with cancer. Mace doesnt give people cancer but I would not like people spraying it around me.

Incase people think I'm saying smoking is harmless here are my key points.

Smoking doesn't kill you, it simply increases your chances of dying early and increases your chances of serious illness.

Passive smoking may cause serious illnesses, its not certain, many different studies and figures contradict each others figures. But many people like to jump on the slightest wiff of smoke because again it it is a nobel cause.
Think about how much hotter and concentrated that smoke is when the smoker draws it into his lungs rather than when it has been floating in the air for long periods of time.

garthv

Move.

rubadub

rubadub wrote:

So the coughing is placebo effect? I find most burning matter giving off smoke makes me cough which I do not enjoy. Am I also imagining the stink from my clothes or are your studies only concerned with cancer. Mace doesnt give people cancer but I would not like people spraying it around me.

You cough when you drawn dust into your lungs? It must kill you.

I have given up smoking, and I personally prefer pubs without smoke but the amount of hysteria surrounding passive smoking is comical.

Chrissy

ronoc wrote:

Think about how much hotter and concentrated that smoke is when the smoker draws it into his lungs rather than when it has been floating in the air for long periods of time.

But that's the key point right there:- the smoker chooses to draw that crap into his lungs.

when he does this in front of non smokers (whether it be less toxic or not), non smokers don't have the choice of whether this gets drawn into their lungs or not.

That's why it's unfair & shouldn't be accepted.

RoundyMooney

ronoc wrote:

And hitler too, right back at you:rolleyes:

Godwin tbh...

RoundyMooney

RoundyMooney wrote:

Godwin tbh...

Comparing smokers to herion addicts is definatly in the same ballpark as goodwins law:)

Chrissy

ronoc wrote:

You cough when you drawn dust into your lungs? It must kill you.

Yes, it certainly doesn't help you anyway:- which is why if you work in a dusty environment you have to wear a mask by law, to prevent that stuff getting into your lungs

RoundyMooney

The OP is correct. How this point is even up for debate is surprising.


I'm a smoker btw.

rubadub

ronoc wrote:

But many people like to jump on the slightest wiff of smoke because again it it is a nobel cause.

Have you actually read any of the replies?

ronoc wrote:

Think about how much hotter and concentrated that smoke is when the smoker draws it into his lungs rather than when it has been floating in the air for long periods of time.

Are you taking the piss. Should I tolerate some scumbag sitting beside me on a bus sniffing glue, stinking up my air and clothes, making my eyes water? I should accept it since he is inhaling more glue fumes than me??

connundrum

ronoc wrote:

it simply increases your chances of dying early and increases your chances of serious illness..

How callous, it simply might take a couple of years off your life.. no problem. I didn't intend to do much during those 5-10 years anyway.

ronoc wrote:

Think about how much hotter and concentrated that smoke is when the smoker draws it into his lungs rather than when it has been floating in the air for long periods of time.

So because you're at way more risk as a smoker you have right to tell us that we shouldn't worry too much as you're going to be the 1st one gone anyway. In fairness this is similar to the time Evil Kenivel came up to be and told me not to bother with those silly seatbelts.. he's still alive after all :v:

connundrum

connundrum wrote:

How callous, it simply might take a couple of years off your life.. no problem. I didn't intend to do much during those 5-10 years anyway.

Did you read what I said? It increases your chances of if you smoke. It doesn't make it certain.

connundrum wrote:

So because you're at way more risk as a smoker you have right to tell us that we shouldn't worry too much as you're going to be the 1st one gone anyway. In fairness this is similar to the time Evil Kenivel came up to be and told me not to bother with those silly seatbelts.. he's still alive after all :v:

Wrong again. Statisticly smokers have a shorter lifespan. That is not the same as every smokers lifespan is shorter than a non smokers.

Yes because Evil Kenivel is a great analogy to use in this case

rubadub

rubadub wrote:

Have you actually read any of the replies?

All of them

Are you taking the piss. Should I tolerate some scumbag sitting beside me on a bus sniffing glue, stinking up my air and clothes, making my eyes water? I should accept it since he is inhaling more glue fumes than me??

Well sniffing glue on a bus was never acceptable so I can't seen to see the connection.

dalk

ronoc wrote:

But many people like to jump on the slightest wiff of smoke because again it it is a nobel cause.

No one mentioned passive smoking until you brought it up.

The OP seems to be more concerned about the bad smell and nuisance factor of smoking...

Morrigan

ronoc wrote:

Well sniffing glue on a bus was never acceptable so I can't seen to see the connection.

Ronoc, you admit smoking causes harm to those around you and those who directly smoke, right?
But it used to be totally acceptable, so we should always accept it?

“An hour a day in a room with a smoker is
nearly a hundred times more likely to
cause lung cancer in a non-smoker than
20 years spent in a building containing
asbestos.” Sir Richard Doll, 1985

dirtyharry1971

Chrissy wrote:

No I won't accept it. It's illegal & therefore I have a right not to.

Like I said, it's not because of health (because as you say with all the vodka in me that'd be a bit hypocritical of me) but because I can't hold my breath for 2.5hrs, which is what I'd have to do on my way home from a night out, if I was to 'ACCEPT IT'.

The law made no expections, so there are no exceptions!

Whinge Whinge Whinge
The smallest violin in the world is playing the worlds sadest song just for you.
Next time this happens confront the smokers directly and see what happens

rubadub

ronoc wrote:

All of them

doesnt seem like it since you ignoring the fact that people are complaining about the smell and coughing. You just keeping going on about cancer.

ronoc wrote:

Well sniffing glue on a bus was never acceptable so I can't seen to see the connection.

WTF!!! sniffing glue is perfectly legal. People do it on buses and some will complain, just like smoking. How can you not see a connection? both people are indulging in legal intoxicants on a bus that others find annoying or irritating, however one is now illegal to do. How can you say it was "never acceptable" I am sure other glue sniffers may not mind, just like other smokers. Or do the majority rule? the majority approve of the smoking ban.

Morrigan

Morrigan wrote:

Ronoc, you admit smoking causes harm to those around you and those who directly smoke, right?
But it used to be totally acceptable, so we should always accept it?

Nope, I agree there is the possibility of passive smoking causing harm under certain circumstances. But how do you define passive smoking. Sitting with a heavy smoker in a stuffy room for hours every day? A smokey but well ventilated bar? Simply inhaling some passive smoke?
Whats the right answer, well the researchers don't know either.

edit::

doesnt seem like it since you ignoring the fact that people are complaining about the smell and coughing. You just keeping going on about cancer.

I said I prefered smokless pubs. Maybe you should have a read.

killswitch

yea

rubadub

dirtyharry1971 wrote:

Next time this happens confront the smokers directly and see what happens

next time get some mace and blast them, see how they like it.

Morrigan

Some people have this attitude - as if they are untouchable and no one ever has or ever will infringe on their rights - and as long as they are not on the receiving end of the transgression they don't care... I just don't understand it...

Chrissy

dirtyharry1971 wrote:

Whinge Whinge Whinge
The smallest violin in the world is playing the worlds sadest song just for you.
Next time this happens confront the smokers directly and see what happens

Oh give over!

You're in the minority on this thread.

I did confront them as I can take abuse no prob.
I got nowhere, which is what I expected, so I reported it, so hopefully I'll see some action that way.

Thanks for your input, much valued:rolleyes:

killswitch

I did confront them as I can take abuse no prob.
I got nowhere, which is what I expected, so I reported it, so hopefully I'll see some action that way.

is it physical or mental abuse that u can take cos id expect that u would have gotten a swift slap for even speaking to the "offenders"

Morrigan

ronoc wrote:

Nope, I agree there is the possibility of passive smoking causing harm under certain circumstances. But how do you define passive smoking. Sitting with a heavy smoker in a stuffy room for hours every day? A smokey but well ventilated bar? Simply inhaling some passive smoke?
Whats the right answer, well the researchers don't know either.

edit::

I said I prefered smokless pubs. Maybe you should have a read.

I did read that... but you said that sniffing clue has never been acceptable so it wasn't a fair analogy (i.e. that it was fair to complain about, unlike smoking), which implied that you believe that the key reason to accept something (i.e. someone else smoking in your vicinity) is if it has been acceptable in the past...

"The researchers don't know"? Where did you get the idea that it hasn't been defined?
It has been defined. For example:
http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=13424

klash

A nation of whingers thats what we've become.

Morrigan

killswitch wrote:

is it physical or mental abuse that u can take cos id expect that u would have gotten a swift slap for even speaking to the "offenders"

Why do you expect that, Killswitch?

Morrigan

klash wrote:

A nation of whingers thats what we've become.

We've always been a nation of whingers! Oh I don't own my own land, Oh all I have to eat is potatoes, Oh I not allowed to speak my native language, Oh I am being forced to learn a dead language...