Comments on: John Reid/Smoking

By: Martyn Smith

Martyn Smith — Mon, 05 Sep 2005 09:09:14 +0000

Smoking In Public Places

Having recently returned from a weekend break in Dublin, I would like to say what a success the ban on smoking in pubs, clubs,resturants and cafes is there. Oh what a joy to go out in the evening for a drink and a meal and not to return stinking of smoke.

Come on UK.. we want a smoking ban … complete.. not the half-hearted one proposed and we want it now!.. Wake up and smell the coffee!.. not the fag ash..

Martyn Smith 5 September 2005

By: Gregory Block

Gregory Block — Fri, 11 Jun 2004 14:45:04 +0000

There was actually some talk by various lobbyists about getting a tax on chewing gum to cover the costs of cleanup that it incurs; I vaguely remember industry responding by saying they’d do something to make it break down faster…

The stuff is practically immortal, it seems.

However, I think a future where people give you a dirty look for putting gum in your mouth is a long way off; that particular future is either already here or just around the corner for smokers.

By: Vanessa Veglio

Vanessa Veglio — Fri, 11 Jun 2004 12:12:49 +0000

Well, in all fairness, I’d rather have chewing gum stuck to my shoes than a lung-full of someone else’s smoke…but we all have our priorities I suppose. I’m actually shocked that John Reid has made those comments considering Sir Liam Donaldson launching the ‘Second Hand Smoke’ campaign on the dangers of children inhaling cigarette smoke in the home. Just my tuppence-worth.

By: Roger Huffadine

Roger Huffadine — Fri, 11 Jun 2004 09:53:26 +0000

As a city dweller I would rather that the government took steps to enforce legislation on dropping ‘litter’ especially when it is Chewing Gum.
As a non-smoker I have a choice to enter an establishment where people are smoking. If I don’t want to be there then I’m not.
But the fu****g chewing gum is EVERYWHERE and in hot weather and when freshly dropped in Winter it sticks like shit to your shoes and takes considerable effort to remove, unless you buy the special gum remover \xA3\xA3\xA3.
Society is more inconvenienced by chewing gum than by smoking.
Lets have a change of focus onto the real issues

By: Gregory Block

Gregory Block — Fri, 11 Jun 2004 09:21:00 +0000

Oh, come on, we can all mince about the wording, but Reid’s fundamentally right: You can’t lecture people into quitting smoking; you can’t legislate prohibition of a common condition.

If it’s going to happen, it can’t happen overnight - it needs to be a gradual change, with popular support, policed and driven home by the people you sit next to in pubs, bars, restaraunts, and offices. Once the general public has reached the stage where your smoking is being policed by them, then you can legislate to support them - but you can’t do the opposite.

And it will happen. Let’s be frank: Smoking isn’t a pretty habit. Even if one thinks purely of vanity, our ever-more-fashion-conscious, "everyone is perfect" world will chuck us out onto the pavement sooner or later; it doesn’t matter whether the reason they’re doing so is public health, the smoky haze, or just dislike. Sooner or later, we’re on the pavement.

When we’re the last ones in the pub, with non-smokers all around us, that’s the time to legislate. Until then, a subversive education program to turn society against smoking and smokers is the obvious best course of action to take - and once that is successful, a ban on smoking will practically walk itself through parliament and into the books.

By: DEGREEK

DEGREEK — Thu, 10 Jun 2004 22:45:20 +0000

Reidy is a scream isn’t he. Just bitter at being forced to give up smoking when be became Minister of Health.

I really like the idea of Labour’s "Big Con"