New Smoking Legislation

Mr E · 07-11-2002 09:55AM #1

Micheál Martin is set to ban smoking in pubs and restaurants when and where food is being served. Do you think this is a good idea?

I, for one, think its a fantastic idea. He hasn't a snowballs chance in hell of banning smoking completely in pubs, but this is a good move in the right direction. The worst thing about a night out on the town is smelling like a bloody ashtray at the end of the night.

Do you think it could/should go further than the new legislation (i.e. a complete ban in pubs?)

- Dave.

Saruman · 07-11-2002 10:00AM

About time.. personally i would rather see a complete ban but its good enough for now... i detest the smell so much i almost never go to a pub because of it and when i do the first thing i want to do when i get out is throw up and have a shower.. Oh and throwing up is not from alcohol as i dont drink.

BuffyBot · 07-11-2002 10:57AM

Sorry, but I disagree. If anything, it should at least be dedicated smoking areas available!

Catch_22 · 07-11-2002 12:48PM

Having seen this type of law in action in california im inclined to say its a good thing.

I smoke, only when im drinking -- still cant kick the habit but this law makes the pubs cleaner, if you do smoke you meet more people through standing at the door having a smoke and you smoke less,

also it might help me to finally kick the habit.

c22

smoke.me.a.kipper · 07-11-2002 12:50PM

dedicated smoking areas. a total ban just wont work.

RainyDay · 07-11-2002 01:00PM

OK - You smokers can have your dedicated smoking areas in pubs & restaurants if I can have a dedicated pi$$ing area in your swimming pools. You won't mind if I urinate just a couple of feet away from where you're swimming, will you? And you won't worry about the effects of my waste products on your hair, your skin, your health, will you?

Total ban is the only way.

Sposs · 07-11-2002 01:09PM

There wouldnt be a problem with smokers in pubs,if pubs had decent air conditioning.

PadraigL · 07-11-2002 01:18PM

Why no smoking in pubs where food is served? Is it for the workers serving the food? If so are the workers in pubs that serve no food not counted?

Should be banned in all areas. I don’t think a dedicated smoking area works, unless it’s a separate room, otherwise the smoke still drifts.

Totally agree with RainyDay, although some pools I have been in are a bit suspect……..

Meh · 07-11-2002 01:27PM

Originally posted by PadraigL
Why no smoking in pubs where food is served?

According to Micheal Martin, it's in the interests of equity between restaurants and pubs.

Should be banned in all areas.

I definitely agree with smoking being banned in work. But I think the best balance between smokers and non-smokers in pubs would be to offer the publican a choice between installing air conditioning and banning smoking.

PadraigL · 07-11-2002 01:49PM

I can see the price of a pint rising. It costs, for good air conditioning.

seamus · 07-11-2002 01:59PM

Originally posted by PadraigL
I can see the price of a pint rising. It costs, for good air conditioning.

I don't think so. Pubs rake in a ****load and air conditioning's not *that* expensive. Besides, it seems that many pubs in Dublin have taken the time to try get the air cleaner. Hell, even downstairs in Bruxelles seems less smokey nowadays!

I'm not a smoker, and I detest people around me smoking. But the pub is different. People go to the pub to relax, to unwind. You ruin that atmosphere if you have 20/30 people standing outside a pub puffing their brains out every 10 minutes. So I say don't ban it, but certainly create non-smoking areas for people who would like to be out of the smokey atmosphere.

Meh · 07-11-2002 02:02PM

Originally posted by PadraigL
I can see the price of a pint rising. It costs, for good air conditioning.

So if you want to save money, go to a pub that has chosen to ban smoking rather than pay for air conditioning.

meglome · 07-11-2002 02:08PM

I'd like not to be fascist about it and say we could have smoking areas but it really doesn't work. Effectively you are often right next to the smoking section when you are in the non-smoking section, so it's a bit of a joke. In some places this is not bad but in others it's terrible.

Many a night I have sat in the pub and had my eyes stinking with the levels of smoke and clothes that, only worn for a few hours, have to be washed because they stink.

Micheál Martin approach is interesting because some pubs are making a lot of extra money from food so they will fall in line.

NeVeR · 07-11-2002 06:34PM

I was in canada for 2 months this year and it was great, No smoking in any Bar's/restaurants or shoping center,

I think this is the best way ,,

and by the way the voting is going alot more ppl think so as well.

Mr E · 07-11-2002 07:02PM

I don't think a 'no smoking' area in pubs would work. Its all or nothing.

Once people get pished in the pub, they aren't going to give a **** where they're smoking (and bouncers have enough to do without having to tell people that they're smoking in the wrong area).

- Dave.

kaimera · 07-11-2002 07:17PM

zero tolerence is the way to go!

complete ban imo.

Anyway...aint the price o fags going up €1 at least, maybe €2 soon?

Should have DOUBLED the price imo.

Dustaz · 07-11-2002 07:35PM

This came up a few months ago when Mr Martin went on his last crusade against smokers and then too, it was obvious that theres a lot of Anti-smoking zealots too.

"complete ban, noone wants smokers ruining the air in pubs"

Sorry, but you were wrong then and your still wrong now guys. Ask the owner of "Irelands only non-smoking pub" in galway.
Well actually you cant, because it went out of business due to lack of patronage.

Noone likes totally smokey bars, not even smokers. Introduce laws to install decent air-conditioning and introduce no-smoking areas is the way forward. This is just insane.

Muirthile · 07-11-2002 07:49PM

Originally posted by smak
dedicated smoking areas. a total ban just wont work.

It worked in California.

Originally posted by Sposs
There wouldnt be a problem with smokers in pubs,if pubs had decent air conditioning.

The air conditioning could incorporate a jet engine running in reverse and it still would be feck all good if someone is smoking beside you.

Originally posted by Dustaz
"complete ban, noone wants smokers ruining the air in pubs"

Sorry, but you were wrong then and your still wrong now guys. Ask the owner of "Irelands only non-smoking pub" in galway.
Well actually you cant, because it went out of business due to lack of patronage.

I don't think the headline "Pubs thoughout Ireland go out of business due to complete smoking ban!" would ever happen.
People go to pubs to drink, not to smoke. People won't stop going to pubs if they can't smoke there, because they'll still want to get pi$$ed.

El Marco · 07-11-2002 08:06PM

I'm all for it to be banned in restaurants, but I think smoke adds to the atmosphere in pubs

Thanx 4 The Fish · 07-11-2002 08:11PM

He also plans to impose a ban on smoking at the bar. am looking forward to not smelling like an ashtray after a night out

Giblet · 07-11-2002 08:17PM

Definatly ban smoking in places where food is served. Far too many times did I have to stop eating because of people smoking beside me.

Goodshape · 07-11-2002 08:30PM

Banning smoking in pubs is a bit much; I'm surprised so many people went for a complete ban.

When food is being served will do.

(I don’t smoke)

RainyDay · 07-11-2002 08:51PM

but I think smoke adds to the atmosphere in pubs

Definitely, it adds arsenic to the atmosphere, tar to the atmosphere, sulpher dioxide to the atmosphere etc etc etc.

entropi · 07-11-2002 09:55PM

OMG.. BAN IT AT ALL TIMES .

As someone who dont smoke, it irritates the living sh*t out of me when i take in second hand smoke from someone..... i ask them to move or i usually stand outta the way, and i'm fed up doing these things.

Good on the politicians standing up for issues like this.

Gordon · 07-11-2002 10:07PM

I'm a smoker, I'm smoking right now, but I think it's a great idea that a ban would exist. I do like smoking when I drink which is really the only time that I smoke but sometimes pubs are just unbreathable it is very unfortunate for non-smokers and indeed smokers, if smokers want to smoke they can do it outside and who gives a ****e if there's masses of tokers outside - it's outside in the open air.

I think this is far better for the health of everyone as opposed to raising the price of cigarettes, but sure smokers are great moneyspinners. Maybe some kind of smoking permit should be made for pubs to apply for but I guess at the end of the day pubs would be shelling out couple of quid to allow smokers and it would defeat the purpose.

Great stuff, finally legislation can be for the good of our long term health as opposed to the short term good of the economy.

Seraphina · 07-11-2002 10:57PM

woohoo!
finally, ive been waiting for this to come in since it happened in america!
i dont mind smokers, most of my friends are smokers, but when there are so many smoking in a small area, i end up with stinging eyes, stinking hair and clothes, and i think im developing a passive smokers cough! plus there are those obnoxious holier than thou smokers who think 'its my right to smoke if i want, and its also my right to blow all my smoke in your face if i want'

daveg · 08-11-2002 10:26AM

Considering your 20% more likely to get lung cancer if your a passive smoker I think its a good move.

daveirl · 08-11-2002 10:27AM

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Humphrey · 08-11-2002 10:31AM

I reckon Dustaz's post hi the nail on the head.

BTW. I dont smoke but i do when i am drinking

Beruthiel · 08-11-2002 10:39AM

I am against a total ban!
I think it's a good idea to have a section in the pub, but a total ban, no way!
hey Gordie, I ain't going out to stand in the rain every time I want to smoke while I'm drinking, I have no problem doing it at work, but not in the pub!!!

daveirl · 08-11-2002 10:44AM

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New Smoking Legislation

Banning Smoking In Pubs 90 votes

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