Should smoking be banned completely ?

rubadub · 02-09-2015 05:37PM

sm213 wrote: »

In Fairness there's a lot of difference. Someone can smoke and be a perfectly functional member of society (except for when they really need one)
Try legalising cocaine and see how many people can work after they have a cheeky line at lunch time.

I am sure there are millions of people taking cocaine at lunch time and working fine, if not even better afterwards. Just like millions might have a drop of wine or a pint during lunch.

People have this bizarre notion that illegal or indeed legal but non-mainstream drugs MUST be taken in excess. Its really puzzling as these people will fully accept that someone could have a half pint of beer and stop, or have 1 cigarrette without feeling the need to get some pure tobacco and smoke it in large doses which would give a very pronounced psychoactive effect. They can accept that Aunty Bridie can have a nip of sherry at christmas but might laugh at the thought of someone enjoying a threshold amount of cocaine once a year.

People will take LSD or psilocybin (magic mushrooms) in very small doses and go to work to function better. Just as some would take amphetamine. Kids with ADHD are prescribed drugs from the amphetamine family.

If cocaine was relegalized I expect many might take milder doses, like how chewing on coca leaves is popular in south america as a mild stimulant like a cup of coffee here is.

RayM · 02-09-2015 05:40PM

No, I should be smoke if I choose.

Gradually phasing it out (throughout the EU, and not just in Ireland) would probably be more sensible than an outright ban. Set a date (2025 or 2030) by which the manufacture and sale of all tobacco products will be banned. In the meantime, increase the prices massively (€20 per packet) and introduce harsher penalties for sale and possession of smuggled or counterfeit cigarettes.

Oh, and as for smokers' rights - fuck your 'right' to make your loved ones watch you die a horrible, avoidable, lingering death.

Th0mas Shelby · 02-09-2015 05:45PM

No, the price should be decreased, I shouldn't be financially punished for choosing to smoke.

Personally I think that it shouldn't be banned but I would definitely support a large tax on it while leaving the laws as is ie. not banning outright in public places. I can see where those who would like a ban come from though.

So, kind of option three, but NO instead of YES (think that error is shoving up the YES vote up to around 43%).

coffeepls · 02-09-2015 06:03PM

I believe in having choice - ban smoking? No.

People who smoke are not stupid (mentioned earlier). They know how bad smoking is for their health. However, if smokers are under some illusion that it's not bad for their health - well now. That's the height of ignorance.

end of the road · 02-09-2015 06:25PM

RayM wrote: »

Gradually phasing it out (throughout the EU, and not just in Ireland) would probably be more sensible than an outright ban. Set a date (2025 or 2030) by which the manufacture and sale of all tobacco products will be banned. In the meantime, increase the prices massively (€20 per packet) and introduce harsher penalties for sale and possession of smuggled or counterfeit cigarettes.

Oh, and as for smokers' rights - fuck your 'right' to make your loved ones watch you die a horrible, avoidable, lingering death.

would make no difference. the black market will manufacture instead, and no penalty will stop them. educating people about the risks, and then letting them make their own choice after is the best way.

MadDog76 · 02-09-2015 06:30PM

RayM wrote: »

Gradually phasing it out (throughout the EU, and not just in Ireland) would probably be more sensible than an outright ban. Set a date (2025 or 2030) by which the manufacture and sale of all tobacco products will be banned. In the meantime, increase the prices massively (€20 per packet) and introduce harsher penalties for sale and possession of smuggled or counterfeit cigarettes.

Oh, and as for smokers' rights - fuck your 'right' to make your loved ones watch you die a horrible, avoidable, lingering death.

This post started sounding sensible, balanced, mature, intelligent and reasonable ......... but then it went all wrong with a ridiculously immature and idiotic ending ....... shame really.

Kev_2012 · 02-09-2015 06:33PM

Yes, the price should be increased to €15 a pack.

As a non smoker who absolutely hates tobacco smoke, no.

It's a choice. I love to drink, and right now I'm off it for a while but I love having the option to drink if I want.

One of my favourite movies ever is Demolition Man and people always criticize me for it. But if you watch it, it's basically what the world would be like if you banned all of the "bad" things in the world. Watch it, it will make you realize very fast how crap life would be.

Notavirus.exe · 02-09-2015 06:35PM

No, I should be smoke if I choose.

Yes, definitely.

What was once thought to cure diseases and problems is now known to kill people instead.

Kev W · 02-09-2015 06:40PM

No, the price should be decreased, I shouldn't be financially punished for choosing to smoke.

Notavirus.exe wrote: »

Yes, definitely.

What was once thought to cure diseases and problems is now known to kill people instead.

But prohibition doesn't work. It's been proven over and over and in fact continues to be proven every day. Ultimately adults have to make their own decisions.

Rezident · 02-09-2015 07:37PM

No, I should be smoke if I choose.

Just legalise weed and stop the hypocrisy.

02-09-2015 07:40PM

I'm sure someone has posted this already - or if not, I really wonder why someone hasn't posted this already....

....but is there any chance the OP could edit the poll to make it, like, y'know, sensible, rational and with a complete set of responses?

Thanks.

MadDog76 · 02-09-2015 07:41PM

Ban smoking ........ hmmmm ......... let's think about it rationally.

What's the goal? To completely eliminate smoking/cigarettes from our society?? Does anybody really think that would happen???

Here's what would happen if we prohibited smoking:

1. It would turn a huge amount of smokers into criminals over-night thus increasing an attitude of disrespect for the law in general.

2. Organised Crime would become a reality here in Ireland ......... you think Irish criminal gangs are dangerous and powerful now? Alcohol Prohibition in America turned Gangs of New York into The Godfather! The effects of that little social experiment are still being felt there to this day.

3. Our Gardai, Court System and Politicians would become further corrupted ....... possibly permanently. The massive amounts of money involved in illegal cigarettes, along with smoking being seen as a "victim-less crime", would eventually taint the legal system.

4. Our already pressured Gardai, over-populated prisons and slow Courts would be further burdened ......... you can't throw every smoker in jail! This would mean that many "real" crimes would go unsolved and many "real" criminals not being apprehended.

5. Cigarettes would no longer be regulated resulting in low-grade cigarettes being produced, sold and consumed ......... causing even more smoke-related illnesses being dumped onto our doctors and nurses.

6. A rise in smoking among teenagers because now smoking would be seen as even more rebellious and, therefore, cool. :cool:

7. Help for those who do want to stop smoking would become difficult to administer ......... a lot of smokers won't want to admit they are criminals in order to get treatment for their addiction.

8. The loss of revenue along with the cost of fighting the "War on Smoking" would financially cripple the country.

The Government’s role is not to legislate what people are allowed to do for recreation ........ what we can eat, drink, smoke or engage in sexually just because it is deemed "bad" for us ........ we are not children and should not be treated as such.

Smoking is becoming more and more socially unacceptable, smoking amongst teenagers is on the decrease, smokers quitting (or at least attempting to quit) is on the increase ........ the message is getting through, we are on the right path ....... so why would we mess it up now by doing something as stupid as banning it outright over-night!?!!?!

Notavirus.exe · 02-09-2015 07:46PM

No, I should be smoke if I choose.

MadDog76 wrote: »

Smoking is becoming more and more socially unacceptable, smoking amongst teenagers is on the decrease, smokers quitting (or at least attempting to quit) is on the increase ........ the message is getting through, we are on the right path ....... so why would we mess it up now by doing something as stupid as banning it outright over-night!?!!?!

So what you're saying is, everyone will turn into criminals if we ban smoking but people are giving up smoking anyway and that's a good thing?

Le Surge Eyed Amant · 02-09-2015 07:49PM

Yes, the price should be increased to €15 a pack.

Notavirus.exe wrote: »

So what you're saying is, everyone will turn into criminals if we ban smoking but people are giving up smoking anyway and that's a good thing?

I think it's pretty obvious he didn't say that.

02-09-2015 07:53PM

MadDog76 wrote: »

....... so why would we mess it up now by doing something as stupid as banning it outright over-night!?!!?!

This is Ireland.

If we want to eliminate smoking immediately, all we have to do is take the following steps:

Don't ban tobacco consumption - make it compulsory.
Change the law so that all cigarettes would cost 1c, plus €10.99 in tax.
Ban all commercial private sector outlets for tobacco.
Instead all tobacco must be sold through shops - that would have plentiful stocks and be open 24/7, and offer delivery to customers' front doors - run by a State-owned monopoly company called Irish Smokes.
Get the welfare to give people a "fags conservation grant" of a hundred quid a year.

Sorted. :P

MadDog76 · 02-09-2015 07:53PM

Notavirus.exe wrote: »

So what you're saying is, everyone will turn into criminals if we ban smoking but people are giving up smoking anyway and that's a good thing?

Giving up smoking takes a long time and, usually, several attempts before being successful ........ if we outlaw smoking tomorrow then any smoker who cannot quit permanently in 24 hours would become a criminal.

It took my father 8 years to give up smoking ....... he started by choice, he quit by choice ....... cigarettes being illegal would have not benefited him in any way whatsoever, he would just have been another criminal smoking in the shadows lining the pockets of Criminal Gangs ....... is that a "good thing"?

Sam Kade · 02-09-2015 08:00PM

No, I should be smoke if I choose.

end of the road wrote: »

big difference between indoor and outdoors. i think most agreed with the indoor smoking ban as it has an actual benefit. an outdoor one on the other hand or even a full one would have none apart from bankrupting the country for definite

They were referring to people smoking in the home which I was referring to

KevinMunster12 · 02-09-2015 08:18PM

Of course we should ban them. In 100 years people will look back and say what idiots we were

MadDog76 · 02-09-2015 08:21PM

KevinMunster12 wrote: »

Of course we should ban them. In 100 years people will look back and say what idiots we were

It's almost 100 years since America banned alcohol (for the good of the people of course) ......... what's your opinion on how that worked out?

MadDog76 · 02-09-2015 08:27PM

Sam Kade wrote: »

Did you ever hear of second hand smoke? If you were ever in a pub before the smoking ban you'd know what it's like.

end of the road wrote: »

big difference between indoor and outdoors. i think most agreed with the indoor smoking ban as it has an actual benefit. an outdoor one on the other hand or even a full one would have none apart from bankrupting the country for definite

Sam Kade wrote: »

They were referring to people smoking in the home which I was referring to

Who mentioned smoking in the home???

"end of the road" reply to you as you were talking about second-hand smoking in pubs before the smoking ban.

xLisaBx · 02-09-2015 10:50PM

I always believed that smoking, alcohol, drug use etc. should all be legal once the consumer is 18 years old. If somebody wants to consume a substance that poses a substantial threat to their wellbeing and life, that's their problem, and should be their own choice- not the choice of the government.

osarusan · 02-09-2015 11:30PM

xLisaBx wrote: »

I always believed that smoking, alcohol, drug use etc. should all be legal once the consumer is 18 years old. If somebody wants to consume a substance that poses a substantial threat to their wellbeing and life, that's their problem, and should be their own choice- not the choice of the government.

If the government is going to be picking up the pieces (rehab, prison, etc) then I think the government should have have power to regulate it.

RayM · 03-09-2015 12:43AM

No, I should be smoke if I choose.

MadDog76 wrote: »

This post started sounding sensible, balanced, mature, intelligent and reasonable ......... but then it went all wrong with a ridiculously immature and idiotic ending ....... shame really.

No, it's actually a completely valid point, and one borne out of experience. The addict's 'right' to consume a drug that has absolutely no benefits, aside from sating an addiction, should always be less important than their family's right not to lose them prematurely to a wholly avoidable illness.

end of the road · 03-09-2015 01:23AM

KevinMunster12 wrote: »

Of course we should ban them. In 100 years people will look back and say what idiots we were

grand, where is the money coming from both to replace lost revenue and enforce the ban? over all, it would be billions lost

Neon_Lights · 03-09-2015 01:44AM

If you continually clamp down on consumer choice to buy items there will be no use for money society and we can all live in a communist utopia... Cigarettes are addictive I know from being a former smoker, however banning them completely will probably set a precedent to ban every single luxury good that's unhealthy...

Jigsaw · 03-09-2015 02:11AM

Hard to beat an auld smoke like. Too many buggers about drinking coconut water and green tea.

KungPao · 03-09-2015 02:45AM

Hopefully it isn't.

I quit at 33 and have promised myself a nice dirty smoke on my 65th birthday.

Anyway, it's crazy talk. Marijuana is being legalised all over the place and Portugal has basically legalised all drugs. Prohibition just makes a massive black market and ensures that the user has no idea what they are really taking.

kylith · 03-09-2015 08:10AM

RayM wrote: »

No, it's actually a completely valid point, and one borne out of experience. The addict's 'right' to consume a drug that has absolutely no benefits, aside from sating an addiction, should always be less important than their family's right not to lose them prematurely to a wholly avoidable illness.

So we're back to alcohol; the addict's family there will lose them to a drug with no benefits. And what about scuba diving, or base jumping? Those carry a high risk of death with no benefits, so are we banning them as well?

Sam Kade · 03-09-2015 09:25AM

No, I should be smoke if I choose.

MadDog76 wrote: »

Who mentioned smoking in the home???

"end of the road" reply to you as you were talking about second-hand smoking in pubs before the smoking ban.

the poster that I quoted, that's who.

Sam Kade · 03-09-2015 09:28AM

No, I should be smoke if I choose.

xLisaBx wrote: »

I always believed that smoking, alcohol, drug use etc. should all be legal once the consumer is 18 years old. If somebody wants to consume a substance that poses a substantial threat to their wellbeing and life, that's their problem, and should be their own choice- not the choice of the government.

How many started smoking and regretted it later on? If they had someone to prevent them from smoking in the first place they would be very thankful to them.

Should smoking be banned completely ?

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