Smoking Ban 5 Years On

Volvoboy

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/eyaueyojeykf/

Today marks the fifth anniversary of smoke-free work places in Ireland.

Ireland was the first country to introduce the ban on this day in 2004.

Since then several other countries have introduced similar bans, including the North, Britain, New Zealand, Norway and Puerto Rico.

The Office of Tobacco Control is now set to introduce a ban on over the counter advertising for cigarettes and tobacco in shops from July 1.

Hard to belive it was introduced in 2004.

Random

I'm happy that places are smoke free.

I still believe people should be allowed to open a smoking bar if they wish.

I hate having to walk through a cloud of smoke everytime I walk into or out of a building.

chin_grin

Go..........cof cof cof cof........u..........COF COF COF COF COF COF COF COF WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZE............us.

EDIT: Oooh just realised that's five years of smelling ripe Guinness farts. F*ckin nasty.

mikemac

I remember people saying it'd never work. And some old man on RTE News saying he'd continue to smoke on the trains.

But it worked!

Random wrote: »

I still believe people should be allowed to open a smoking bar if they wish.

Well you'd need staff to sign some sort of disclaimer and even then, that smoking pub would be wide open to be sued from staff.

Jesus Wept

Volvoboy wrote: »

Hard to belive it was introduced in 2004.

In what sense

Volvoboy

The-Rigger wrote: »

In what sense

In that it dosent feel like 5 years ago.

Wagon

Worked well. Have to admit. With they could do something else right though.

Whosbetter?

I look at old programmes on TV that feature smoking inside with nostalgia now.

We didn't know how lucky we were to live in a free world....

Before all the hysterical nonsense about safety & litigation took over.

rororoyourboat

I've never had a night out pre smoking ban, and as an easy going non smoker, I'm kinda glad. HAve been in clubs in Spain and jaysis, the stink of smoke off me when I got home! Most places have heated outdoor smoking places and I generally stay out there, as most of my friends are smokers and, tbh, it's grand - I'm happy out. It certainly showed inventiveness on the pub owners' of Ireland's part - the amount of smoking areas that are barely outside is hilarious.

Lilyblue

Love the smoking ban. I cannot understand why people still smoke and out in the freezing cold to boot. My friends smoke out my back garden when over...even if its snowing..still doesn't put them off :eek:. Its a disgusting habit IMO!

jesus_thats_gre

Tis one of the few things that they didn't **** up over the past 10 years..

remember thinkin it would be a disaster but it's class.. over in germany, felt so weird everyone smokin in the clubs.

g5fd6ow0hseima

also allows people sneak the odd joint in the smoking areas nowadays.

boards.

Farts do smell alot

Firetrap

Random wrote: »

I'm happy that places are smoke free.

I still believe people should be allowed to open a smoking bar if they wish.

I hate having to walk through a cloud of smoke everytime I walk into or out of a building.

It's not ideal but at least you're walking into a smoke-free building. I remember coming home from bars and having to just throw my clothes straight into the washing machine because they stank to the high heavens. And my pillow would stink like hell the next morning because of the smoky smell in my hair.

I've occasionally hung out in the smoking area with friends and one thing strikes me. At least out there you can hold conversations with people without 2,000db music blaring in your ear. It's almost worth inhaling the dodgy fumes for.

Boskowski

Still not sure myself whats worse. The smoke or the vile stench of sweat, vomit and beer farts around 12:30...

staker

didn't and still don't agree with the ban.
people stink!!

DigiJem

Wow was it really 5 years ago? I dreaded the ban at start but its introduced the "smoking area" which, in most pubs, is a really nice spot to have a chat with fellow smokers.

jimmycrackcorm

Random wrote: »

I still believe people should be allowed to open a smoking bar if they wish.

If that was the case then every pub here would choose to be a smoking bar.

Doubs

Hard to believe it's been 5 yrs as mentioned.

As an Irish person I'm really proud of the Irish governments initiative/balls on this issue.

Really surprised that other countries haven't followed our lead on the plastic bag levy as well, I've always thought it to be another excellent initiative and, having recently moved to London, am still bewildered momentarily when asked if I want a bag when all I'm buying is a litre of milk

bobcar61

I think the smoking ban was one of the best things they have introduced.

Who would have thought the government could have come up with a smart idea

Hogzy

Firetrap wrote: »

I've occasionally hung out in the smoking area with friends and one thing strikes me. At least out there you can hold conversations with people without 2,000db music blaring in your ear. It's almost worth inhaling the dodgy fumes for.

It annoys me so much when people go clubbing then complain about how loud the music is, What do you expect its a club!

If you wanna have a conversation go to a late bar!!

useful_contacts

Volvoboy wrote: »

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/eyaueyojeykf/



Hard to belive it was introduced in 2004.

5 years? jesus

xOxSinéadxOx

Doubs wrote: »

Hard to believe it's been 5 yrs as mentioned.

As an Irish person I'm really proud of the Irish governments initiative/balls on this issue.

Really surprised that other countries haven't followed our lead on the plastic bag levy as well, I've always thought it to be another excellent initiative and, having recently moved to London, am still bewildered momentarily when asked if I want a bag when all I'm buying is a litre of milk

yeah I like the plastic bag thing too. loads of english people complain about how they're encouraged to bring their own bags

and as for the smoking ban, can't believe it's been that long. I still remember the news showing people smoking in a pub on the last day! can't believe people used to be allowed to smoke in restaurants! whatever about pubs

Random

If that was the case then every pub here would choose to be a smoking bar.

I guess you could argue this side of it. I'm happy because I don't smoke so it suits me down to the ground. I don't like being told what I can and can't do though. If I own a bar I should be allowed run it how I want.

But anyways .. Smoking Ban = a good thing in my eyes.

Tar.Aldarion

It's worked out great.

SV

useful_contacts wrote: »

5 years? jesus

bout 2000 years for that one I think.



Anyway, how much is an average pack of cigarettes now?

Terry

Smokers are the scum of the Earth and they indisciminately kill kittens, especially cute ones.

right. That's that out of the way.

As a smoker, I'd like to see them completely banned.
Smuggling?
It's not that hard to spot someone smoking.

Guy:Incognito

Terry wrote: »

As a smoker, I'd like to see them completely banned.
Smuggling?
It's not that hard to spot someone smoking.

Bit hard to instantly ban somethign thats so ingrained in to society. What do the 10s of thousands (hundreds of thousands?) of lifetime smokers do the day after the ban?

Look how well pro-hobition worked in the US.

Firetrap

Hogzy wrote: »

It annoys me so much when people go clubbing then complain about how loud the music is, What do you expect its a club!

If you wanna have a conversation go to a late bar!!

I didn't say I was in a club. I've not stood in a nightclub for a few years. In my town, it's pretty darn difficult to find any pubs where they don't have loud music :mad: Maybe I need new friends :rolleyes:

Caliden

I still enjoy coming home from a night out not smelling like an ash tray

Agent Smith

As a Smoker, i think its a great idea tbh

banquo

I'm a smoker. I think it's great. I like to smoke, but it does smell and people shouldn't have to wash their clothes because of me. I think even if there wasn't a ban I still wouldn't smoke in a bar.

As someone mentioned, it also introduced the Smoking Area - a great little place.

Kieo

as a smoker myself i think its been a great success, and i find when i go out i dont smoke as much.(esp when its cold out) as my local pub has not made any effort to put a decent smoking area other than a sheet of plywood and an ashtray on the wall. But still today i see people lighting up in non smoking areas esp the dart stations.

Sharpshooter

The Smirting area I believe, banquo.:D

Biggins

One of the best changes in Irish public society - ever!

seamus

I have to say, it's been very rare that I've had problems with the smell of people since the smoking ban. People are by and large quite clean . If you're going into pubs that reek of sweat and farts, then you're clearly going to ****holes. You can't complain in that case.

Sam Vimes

Random wrote: »

I still believe people should be allowed to open a smoking bar if they wish.

I think people should be free to do whatever they want as long as it doesn't affect others......but that very seriously affects others

What you're describing is the situation pre-2004. People were free to open non-smoking bars if they wished. There were no non-smoking bars

Wagon

Lilyblue wrote: »

Love the smoking ban. I cannot understand why people still smoke and out in the freezing cold to boot. My friends smoke out my back garden when over...even if its snowing..still doesn't put them off :eek:. Its a disgusting habit IMO!

boohoo. I can't understand how people manage to drink Vodka and not tear out their stomach through their eye sockets just to stop getting the taste but you know, horses for courses...

I do appreciate a nice smoking garden though. It's nice to be able to stay sheltered and warm while you smoke.

Neverwhere

As a smoker, I really don't mind the smoking ban for the most part. It's a pain in the ass in the winter when its cold though.

The only issue i have with it is that they take it SO seriously. For example, I'm in Oxford at the moment, and they've got a bar called the Bubbly Bar here. It's run by a bunch of Indian guys....they have a bar, and the main attraction would be the hooka pipes. The place almost got shut down last year so because people were smoking inside, so they have had to move all of the smoke related items out the back on the terrace in the freezing cold.

Personally I find this ridiculous. The whole point of the bar is to go in on a friday night, have a couple drinks and toke away at strawberry flavoured tobacco to chill out. Places like this should have the right to have some sort of permit allowing smoking inside.

The whole point of the place is smoke, so non smokers are warned.

Kipperhell

I am surprised people think it has worked out so well.

People drink more at home now and at home the drink large quantities. Business that thrived for years are suddenly empty and risk closing up.

The smoking ban was certainly decisive in damaging the pub trade. People who said they would go to the pubs more regularly once the smoking ban came in never did and the smokers stay less time.

There is good and bad in everything but it is very blinkered to say the smoking ban has worked successfully just because people don't smell. The real results would be less smoking and less drinking but I don't think that is the case at all.

Roadend

Kipperhell wrote: »

I am surprised people think it has worked out so well.

People drink more at home now and at home the drink large quantities. Business that thrived for years are suddenly empty and risk closing up.

The smoking ban was certainly decisive in damaging the pub trade. People who said they would go to the pubs more regularly once the smoking ban came in never did and the smokers stay less time.

There is good and bad in everything but it is very blinkered to say the smoking ban has worked successfully just because people don't smell. The real results would be less smoking and less drinking but I don't think that is the case at all.

Yes peope are drinking more at home over the smoking ban, and definitely not because of 5 euro upwards pints.(which in a lot of cases are pints of toilet water)

Tech3

It was a great idea and still is. The way it has been enforced for a country as laughable as this has been impressive.

No more nights out with smelly clothes coming home.

Sam Vimes

Kipperhell wrote: »

I am surprised people think it has worked out so well.

People drink more at home now and at home the drink large quantities. Business that thrived for years are suddenly empty and risk closing up.

The ban had an effect on business but the response of the publicans to falling trade was to exponentially increase the prices, forcing out the ones who were left

dioltas

If anything I'd say more people are smoking socially because of it. Ive a good few friends who go out to the smoking area for the craic and end up smoking a few. But what harm!

h8red

Sweet. That means I've been off the fags for 5 years and 1 day!!

Roadend

And what about the cigarettes?

h8red

Muhahahaha. Those too. I hate both. :pac:

Kipperhell

Roadend wrote: »

Yes peope are drinking more at home over the smoking ban, and definitely not because of 5 euro upwards pints.(which in a lot of cases are pints of toilet water)

Price was a factor but if the ban has not reduced drinking or smoking and also damaged businesses how much of a success is that?

ArmaniJeanss

I'm happy with it, as I used to smoke too much in the pub.
Having to go outside for a cigarette makes it easier to pace yourself.

By the way, where did all the ashtrays go?

Jesus Wept

dioltas wrote: »

If anything I'd say more people are smoking socially because of it. Ive a good few friends who go out to the smoking area for the craic and end up smoking a few. But what harm!

Lung cancer?