Downing Street Says » Smoking Ban

Asked if there was any news on smoking in public places, the PMOS said no. Asked if it would be discussed at Cabinet tomorrow, the PMOS said that he would brief on Cabinet as was the usual practice after it had happened.

30 Comments »

I organize and run an anti-smoking patrol in and around my local community, this being prior to the smoking ban being brought in next year. So far we have photographic and camcorder evidence of several people that smoke. I don\x92t mind telling you that I have approached my GP, dentist and local Police Superintendent. All three have told me that if I can supply sufficient evidence, i.e. names and addresses of anyone in the local community that is likely to flout the ban when it comes into force in 2007, then they will be ready to move against them, in their various ways.

For example, my GP and dentist will check to see if these smokers are on their patients\x92 lists, and if they are, then they will be prepared to refuse treatment when the time comes. My local Police Superintendent, whom I know socially, says that he would be happy to add names to a database if I can supply a sufficient number to him.

So, my query quite simply is this, will there be an anti-smoking hotline set up by your department, so that information gathered can be quickly conveyed to the relevant authorities, or other interested parties. If this service is to be introduced soon, then can a number be passed on to my local constituency headquarters as soon as possible? I look forward to writing to you again, Patricia. As advised I shall not make these views public.

Your PPS thinks this is a workable idea!

Yours Sincerely

Dr Kenneth Johnson (BSc,Cantab)
Comment by Chris F J Cyrnik — 12 Nov 2006 on 3:54 pm | Link
I agree with a no smoking ban in enclosed buildings but the comments above really do seem rather communist. This country used to be free it seems far from it now with all the do gooders and sheep.
Comment by MATRIX — 13 Jan 2007 on 8:55 am | Link
I agree with a no smoking ban in enclosed buildings but the comments above really do seem rather communist. This country used to be free it seems far from it now with all the do gooders and sheep.
Comment by MATRIX — 13 Jan 2007 on 8:55 am | Link
"I organize and run an anti-smoking patrol in and around my local community…"

Dear god, have you got nothing better to do with your time??

I am adamantly AGAINST the smoking ban, I do not believe it should be the government enforcing this nonsense, but should be individual pub companies and landlords to decide what is best for their business. If people do not wish to breathe in smoke, then they should not go into places that allow smoking. Its that simple.

I will not be stopping smoking and nor will I be paying any fine imposed. I would rather be prosecuted than accept this dangerous assault on civil rights. However, I will respect publicans if asked to refrain as I have no wish to be responsible for incurring them fines.
Comment by Catherine Hicks — 11 Feb 2007 on 3:36 pm | Link
i believe the smoking ban is going to do nothing more then waste police time, pubs will lose half their customers as smokers will stay home and drink instead.
what next people start refusing to pay any such fine and will be imprisoned whilst rapists murders and general scum get to live the free life.

another very clever idea
Comment by dan — 15 Feb 2007 on 2:25 pm | Link
i believe the smoking ban is going to do nothing more then waste police time, pubs will lose half their customers as smokers will stay home and drink instead.
what next people start refusing to pay any such fine and will be imprisoned whilst rapists murders and general scum get to live the free life.

another very clever idea
Comment by dan — 15 Feb 2007 on 2:26 pm | Link
i believe the smoking ban is going to do nothing more then waste police time, pubs will lose half their customers as smokers will stay home and drink instead.
what next people start refusing to pay any such fine and will be imprisoned whilst rapists murders and general scum get to live the free life.

another very clever idea
Comment by dan — 15 Feb 2007 on 2:26 pm | Link
I don’t believe smoking should be banned in pubs and clubs.There is as far as im aware no substantianted scientific evidence that exposure to secondhand smoke causes serious danger to health. 96% air pollutants can be removed with effective ventilation systems,which our government has ignored and the majority of people of this country want choice not bans.Tobacco is a perfectly legal product and vice many people smoke by choice, to send smokers outside of all public enclosed spaces, when there is no scientific proof of danger is in breach of their human rights. Support freedom2choose.co.uk to get the ban amended and allow ventilated smoking rooms in pubs and clubs that want to offer it.
Comment by J Smith — 17 May 2007 on 11:39 pm | Link
From the above comments:

**If people do not wish to breathe in smoke, then they should not go into places that allow smoking.**
THERE WILL NOT BE ANY PLACES THAT ALLOW IT SOON

**However, I will respect publicans if asked to refrain as I have no wish to be responsible for incurring them fines**
THEY WILL ALL ASK YOU TO DO THIS
Comment by Jon Dixon — 23 May 2007 on 4:45 pm | Link
I organize and run an anti-smoking patrol in and around my local community.

LOL

I see that as a very droll condemnation of the ban, not intended to be taken in any way literally.

I AM however certain that pubs & clubs will close in this country, as they have in Scotland & Ireland as a direct result of smoking bans

Non smoking establishments have been a resounding commercial failure.

If smoking in public places was such a big issue for non-smokers, they would have flocked to such enlightened establishments, forcing others that allowed smoking to close or go non-smoking to regain the non-smoking custom, leaving only a few refuges for those who enjoy the weed.

They (a supposed majority) had their choice & failed to impose it voluntarily, now they use legislation to impose their will and remove the choice of others!

I will admit to a vested interest. I am a smoker. I have little doubt that smoking damages my health, but it does also make a large contribution to the nations coffers. What I do not believe, is the lie that smoking CAUSES cancer. That cancer is dormant in many people & can be aggravated by smoking is however beyond despute. I will certainly not be going out to the pub or club.

The living room is now the smoke-easy!!! Home parties will become the norm in this land, and here is the next place the anti smoking lobby will attack!!!! 🙁
Comment by Dave Evans — 31 May 2007 on 1:59 pm | Link
I’m just wondering for how long this stupid and nonsense prohibition on cigarettes will be on.
I thought this was a country of freedom but is definately not.
Do not complain then if most of the youngster will be more tempted to go abroad for a better life .
Is that what you really want? Let all the rest of the world laugh at you ( as it already does ) for these stupid nonsense laws?
You still on time.I mean if I was one of the olympic games organisers, I would definately objected to this stupidity.Imagine all these tourists coming over here and being forced to go out for a ciggie.
Do you realise how contradictory this country has become?
We will not have the freedom to light up on a club but hey, we gonna have a bigger airport with more gases yeah.
I know you wont be putting this comment online as it would probably have too much support but I just want to let you know our opinion.It would be nice if for once it could be the people to decide for themselfs and not some corrupted politician.
England, get a life!!!
And most of all stop copying americans.
Comment by Dionysus — 3 Jun 2007 on 3:12 am | Link
I find the smoking ban to be very offensive when you look at how much money the government make from the taxation of tobacco. Its so much more expensive in the U.K. Now it seems they’re going to make even more with the fines that will be issued to people smoking indoors. Doesn\x92t that seem a bit odd? Making money from cigarettes then making more money from fining the people who are smoking?! There isn’t even 100% proof that secondary smoke causes as much damage as they claim it to. Besides, they’re not going to make alcohol illegal anytime soon but that\x92s more destructive than smoking i.e. fights, destruction of property, even domestic violence. Plus it\x92s just as bad for you health wise. Let\x92s also not forget the fact that pubs and clubs will suffer huge financial losses from the ban.
This is clearly another case of the government spending (or wasting) lots of time and money over a minor problem. Yes they may well reduce the number of people smoking indoors but there are many other more serious problems for the government to be paying this much attention to.
Also there\x92s the issue of the police getting involved, but I don\x92t really care about that because the police have almost become glorified traffic wardens these days. The police seem to be a business, so they’re probably very happy about this.
In conclusion, the smoking ban is to be thrown on top of a huge pile of things I hate about this country. To quote immortal technique:

"I love the place I live but I hate the people in charge."
Comment by steve — 8 Jun 2007 on 1:41 pm | Link
Oh lots of lovley overtime coming my way cant wait for 1st July
Comment by coroner — 11 Jun 2007 on 1:10 am | Link
the bans been in N.I 4 a wee while now & is acculy not that bad!! no one really listens to it! no one says anything if you smoke at bus stops or walking down the street.. smoking outside when your at work isnt that bad either theres a wee shelter thing in my work for us to stand & its good crac standing with everyone!
im still against it & i think its just stupid & pointless because like i said .. no one over here has payed much attension to it!
Comment by Aimee — 23 Jun 2007 on 2:23 pm | Link
"I organize and run an anti-smoking patrol in and around my local community"

ive never read anything so sad and ‘big brother’ like in my life,im sure your community appreciate your snooping about,i certainly wouldn’t!

Smoking ban-my tuppence worth

im a 29 year old smoker in Scotland and the bans been here in March 2006,now i do to an extent agree with it and also i dont..heres my pros and cons to it all

Pros: Non smokers can enjoy smokefree atmosphere hen they go out or go to work.
Encourages smokers to cut down or quit

Cons:The legislation is not democratic and there is no consideration to folk who do choose to partake in this legal activity and the government still happily take the taxes from it and now the SE(with help from that nanny brigade ASH who feed the government BS using junk science on a regular basis) is talking about trying to ban it from your own home!How they will enforce that i dont know,i have rights to remove unwelcome people from my home and to do what i want in my own home.A compromise would be to provide separate smoking rooms,or make pubs smoking or non smoking at landlords discretion,similar to the Spanish legislation which seems reasonable.However places like restaurants and cafes and predominantly food places YES,should be covered by the ban!
Also it would be a human rights issue for doctors refusing to treat smokers on the NHS when theyre human beings and pay taxes too!
Comment by A Bonura — 25 Jun 2007 on 11:46 am | Link
"I organize and run an anti-smoking patrol in and around my local community"

ive never read anything so sad and ‘big brother’ like in my life,im sure your community appreciate your snooping about,i certainly wouldn’t!

Smoking ban-my tuppence worth

im a 29 year old smoker in Scotland and the bans been here in March 2006,now i do to an extent agree with it and also i dont..heres my pros and cons to it all

Pros: Non smokers can enjoy smokefree atmosphere hen they go out or go to work.
Encourages smokers to cut down or quit

Cons:The legislation is not democratic and there is no consideration to folk who do choose to partake in this legal activity and the government still happily take the taxes from it and now the SE(with help from that nanny brigade ASH who feed the government BS using junk science on a regular basis) is talking about trying to ban it from your own home!How they will enforce that i dont know,i have rights to remove unwelcome people from my home and to do what i want in my own home.A compromise would be to provide separate smoking rooms,or make pubs smoking or non smoking at landlords discretion,similar to the Spanish legislation which seems reasonable.However places like restaurants and cafes and predominantly food places YES,should be covered by the ban!
Also it would be a human rights issue for doctors refusing to treat smokers on the NHS when theyre human beings and pay taxes too!
Comment by A Bonura — 25 Jun 2007 on 11:50 am | Link
Talk about big brother how true 1984, sounds theres days we are watched, the police can stop you for no reason what so ever,now the rights of the induviduel have been taken away i agree that enclosed places sould be stoped but pubs and i do not even go there anymore, so why did they not get some nights when you have smoking bar persons and tell the none smokers that that they can choose to go into these pubs or not, but the smokers get get the blame for all ills and thats not fair as there are so many other things that damage your health! but lets pick on the ones who know that it is bad for you and find it hard to stand up for there rights.
Comment by Susan Schofield — 25 Jun 2007 on 2:45 pm | Link
AGAINST SMOKING BAN…..I AM

I wonder with the SMOKING BAN being enforced (July 1st), if the law for "LOITERING is going to be changed? because that is exactly what us smokers will be "LOITERERS", being forced out onto the streets it is illegal to "BLOCK" any doors, stairs,fire exits but that is exactly what will hapeen for the majority of BINGO HALLS, PUBS, CLUBS etc, not too mention pavements where people would have to either walk through groups of people to get passed or even go onto the road into the path of oncoming traffic. And if the "LOTIERING" law is not changing will we then be fined or arrested for not moving on when asked to by the police? And another thing what about the "NOISE" law which would also apply for and to all concerned (either on main roads or side roads). And lets not forget the "NO DRINKING ALCOHOL ON THE STREETS" law which people will do because lets face it who do we know that smokes do not light up with a drink!!!! MY MY MR BLAIR WHAT A MESS YOUR LEAVING BEHIND. Did you and those little people really think this law out at all? Because all I can see is more trouble brewing bring back the good old days where clubs, pubs, have a smokers room only, and put one into all bingo halls (that is if there are any left after July 1st).

DISCRIMINATION AGAINST SMOKERS – I should say so

DANGEROUS – Most Definately (TRAFFIC, PICKPOCKETS ETC, especially in the EAST END OF LONDON).
Comment by D BAKER — 28 Jun 2007 on 7:29 am | Link
If I hear 1 july one more time!! England used to be a country you were proud of. my grandfathers fought against dictatership, now we have no freedom of speach and now you can’t even have a cig in peace. Also they havn’t given a thought about day centres for the homless, I volunteer at one and these people get a few hours of warmth a bit of dinner, a hot cuppa and a ciggeret. Now were gonna have 25-30 men stood on the street all smoking. They really didn’t think it through they should have left it to the mangers discretion as every work place is differant. But on a personal note it gonna be a nightmare.100’s of drunk people all on the streets of a weekend kios utter kios!!!!!!
Comment by jo — 28 Jun 2007 on 8:58 pm | Link
If I hear 1 july one more time!! England used to be a country you were proud of. my grandfathers fought against dictatership, now we have no freedom of speach and now you can’t even have a cig in peace. Also they havn’t given a thought about day centres for the homless, I volunteer at one and these people get a few hours of warmth a bit of dinner, a hot cuppa and a ciggeret. Now were gonna have 25-30 men stood on the street all smoking. They really didn’t think it through they should have left it to the mangers discretion as every work place is differant. But on a personal note it gonna be a nightmare.100’s of drunk people all on the streets of a weekend kios utter kios!!!!!!
Comment by jo — 28 Jun 2007 on 8:59 pm | Link
Well, the last person to be so extreme in their views was Hitler wasn’t it?
Are we heading towards becoming so puritantical that well implode on ourselves with all these enforcements ocming up… because beleive me it doesn’t stop here!
I’ve served my country in the armed forces, but I would not represent this country anymore, as it is not a free democratic society anymore, it is becoming enforced morales and ethics, not one of choice.
This is a free country as long as others tell you what you can or can’t do. But it certainly isn’t democratic anymore.
Whatevr happended to the word tolerance or balanced oppinion and choice?
Comment by Martin — 2 Jul 2007 on 10:05 am | Link
As I said in a prior post.

The first post by Dr Kenneth Johnson is an obvious spoof which I found extremely amusing comment.

We are only a few days into this ban and I MAY go out for an hour on Friday. I will then return to drink (much cheaper) at home.

Many people tend to get violent when drunk and when drinking cheaper booze at home, drink more!!! I can therefore see an increase in domestic violence issues on the horizon!!!

However, why stop at banning smoking in enclosed public places?? There are places all over the world, where smoking in public places is banned, Alberta, Canada being one. Now we have this piece of lunacy to add to the mix.

http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/news_detail.aspx?articleid=45663&categoryid=9001

Where WILL it all end???

To be honest, it will NOT end!!!!!!!

Once the nannies have stopped smoking everywhere, whatever your pleasure is, watch out!!!!!!!!

YOU ARE NEXT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Dave Evans — 4 Jul 2007 on 12:57 pm | Link
pubs,clubs,and bars should all have smoking and non-smoking sections so people have a choice.This goverment is gradually taking away our civil leberties.Good luck to Bob Beech in Southamton for turning his pub into an embassy and allowing smoking and non vat drinks.We need more people like him to show this goverment we are fed up of being dictated to all the time.
Comment by paul gadsdon — 5 Jul 2007 on 5:35 pm | Link
Everyone should sign the no 10 Downing street petition against the ban at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/repeal-the-ban/
Let fascist non-smokers at their fates: one day all of them will fall in love with a smoker… That will be the true holy judgement!!!!
Comment by Leia — 12 Jul 2007 on 4:45 am | Link
Everyone should sign the no 10 Downing street petition against the ban at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/repeal-the-ban/
Let fascist non-smokers at their fates: one day all of them will fall in love with a smoker… That will be the real holy judgement!!!!
Comment by Leia — 12 Jul 2007 on 4:47 am | Link
Everyone should sign the no 10 Downing street petition against the ban at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/repeal-the-ban/
Let fascist non-smokers at their fates: one day all of them will fall in love with a smoker… That will be the real holy judgement!!!!
Comment by Leia — 12 Jul 2007 on 4:48 am | Link
sorry for the multiple post, sth was wrong with my browser…
Comment by Leia — 12 Jul 2007 on 4:51 am | Link
As of today there are 1700 pubs across the country that are still smoking, this stupid law against our fredom must be stopped.

What i suggest you do.

1 find a smoking pub
2 dont use any other
3 tell all your friends about this pub
4 write to Downing Street about this unlawful ban
5 log on to http://www.freedom2choose.co.uk and help
6 refuse to pay any fines (give a false name)

if we all did this the ban will be overturned in weeks. DO IT AND TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS, NOW.!!!
Comment by Tony Blows — 12 Jul 2007 on 8:50 pm | Link
the goverment are full of ****
Comment by lola rose — 27 Sep 2007 on 3:10 pm | Link
The smoking ban what is it really about …well who cares .But i will tell you what it is going to do……..nothing because the British public will not listen to such rubbish.It will end, there will be an agreement. you see the anti,s will want a total ban on cigs in the country and thats where the line is drawn in the sand.They want to much laying down laws like this is crazy.Most of the pubs and clubs will close and then the tax man will loose tut tut.You can expect some change soon.All these silly pictures and posters trying to brainwash people…to the poor fools who believe them…thats too bad.Getting back to reality yes business are slipping and slidding.Social life..well that will be at home the non smokers can sit in the bars and clubs that are about to close down MMMM!!! look closer
is that what this is about …I wonder !!
What will be left. So the town will close oooooh no ghost towns..yep .so change must come…Wheres my lighter hang on a sec. Ok im back.Maybe the local corner shop might sell us a qtr of nico boiled sweets.The hospitals will not require chest xrays so those Docs can go in that Dept.Then the chest wards will go .WEll after all ciggys cause all these problems dont they, right so they can go.I say to all the British people stand up and fight for your rights
Because someone stops smoking or starts smoking its their choice.if you dont like it leave and that is that.The gov makes enough tax from ciggys.
But if only you can see through all this propoganda.Men are dying from their occupations not from sitting in the local having a pint and a cig.If you only knew.And The pub is a tradition esp on Sundays i can remember going to the pub gardens with my dad at the weekends and the men went in the bar it was smokey ,dominoes cards and darts no one bloody complained then so why now.British tradition bring it back..They should think about all of the poor kids being killed on our streets now, drugs weapons focus on that.Mum does not go to bingo now poor women..she would see all her friends their now nothing. A decision
must be made and infavour of everyone…not just one sided. The first day the ban came out i was in town shopping i stopped to sit on a bench out in the open a women said to me do you mind your polluting my air she was very big built women so i said do you mind moving i cant see my bus coming
she went off in a huff.OMG they just walk around looking for it, like the pc plod a messages back i read he walks around looking for it.OMG get a life .Well fingers crossed we will be heard.
Bye for now.
Comment by may — 17 Jun 2008 on 1:47 am | Link

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