So the no-smoking in public places legislation is now in force.

As there is no point to me putting on makeup and doing my hair to go and stand outside a pub in the cold, wind and rain and I am denied cigarettes except in limited circumstances, my only hope of social interaction is in the supermarket. I think the chances of meeting the man of my dreams in the supermarket is pretty limited so in addition to having my social life curtailed there is a knock on to my sex life.

Cheers Toney et al - I may as well take up the veil

Of course on the up-side, the incidence of non-smokers going up in smoke by terrorist bombs in pubs and nightclubs is significantly increased to those of smokers

The terrorists are telling the truth - they hate our freedoms

so too does this Labour government

Did you go out last night astro? I went to a few clubs in Halifax, and although I've never smoked in my life, you have my greatest sympathy.
Wherever possible, pubs should at least have a designated smoking area instead of shutting smokers out completely.

So the removal of another freedom by the state, oh dear will people never learn.

What would have been wrong with smoker/non smoker pubs?

The banners are always so smug.

Astro you would look like you were advertising your wares if you were hovering arould outside a pub. Yet another degradation of women.

No I didn't go out last night Dave, I didn't want to be part of experiencing those last few hours ticking down before my right to choose expired.

I'm not really one for going to nightclubs although there's hundreds of them in Blackpool, I'm more of a quiet drink in a country pub person myself. I don't like the hustle, bustle and noise of pubs and I'm not keen on pi$$ed up tourists on stag and hen nights.

I don't really drink a lot when I go out because I have to drive to the pub or rather back from it, but I'll be damned if I have to drive somewhere to stand outside. It's my only social interaction because I work from home so I don't meet anyone or talk to people other than my children unless I go to the pub - and now it's come to an end.

Except for the internet, I may as well be under house arrest

Smokie - when I started smoking my mother said to me, I don't mind you doing it in the appropriate places but I never want to see you smoking in the street, it's so common.

Yeah, you're right - smoking outside a pub would make me feel like a whore

Though tempted I'm not getting mixed up in this argument.

spoilsport!

Perhaps you should join a shooting club Astro. Lots of men, many of them single.

A dishy young single mum has just joined my club, talk about wasps around a honey pot.

I'm a non smoker, and delighted to be able to go out and not have to suffer from other people smoking;

But there is a problem here.

My 13 year old granddaughter walking down the main street of a small country town past 5 or 6 pubs at 8:00 pm, used to hardly meet anyone.

Now she is constantly having to walk in the road to pass large groups of drinkers standing on the pavement smoking.
And put up with some seriously unwanted jibes.

I support smoking rooms inside pubs! I also strongly support NO SMOKING in Bars, Restaurants and other public places.

Smokie - sounds just the ticket! Might just consider it.

Glynne - years ago what you described was how it was - that's why pubs had vaults bars or games rooms that were totally separate from the lounge bars (or restaurants)

I see absolutely no reason why we couldn't revert to that with the stipulation that anyone working there was a smoker themselves and non-smokers could opt out of going into that bar to work.

But then, I'm of the opinion that pubs aren't the place to take kids and maybe much of the social problems we are encountering now with the youth of today drinking under age, is because they are encouraged to join the world of adult recreation too early.

More stupid legislation - cigs can't be sold to people under 18. Drinks can't be sold to people under 18 but we can take kids to the one place that specialises in alcohol.

Duh! Talk about sending mixed messages to kids. You can go and watch your parents getting pi$$ed but because it's in a non-smoking environment it's safe and acceptable.

I'm completely for the ban. Even if you have a designated "smoking/non-smoking" areas in a restaurant it doesn't make hardly any difference. The gases are in the air, they diffuse, I'm still getting secondary smoke. No thank you. And the 'it's my right' business doesn't really wash with me either. It's my right not to breath in smoke.

But there you go. Perhaps a lifetime of having an extended family of smokers is what makes me so anti-smoking (and the fact that I suffer from asthma).

You missed the point. Glynne and I weren't advocating non-smoking areas in restaurants, we were advocating allowing a choice and the return of vaults bars as totally separate rooms with no-interconnecting doors to other areas of a pub.

or is that too moderate a concept for the English these days?

Amberlina
It may be your right 'not to' but it is not equally their right 'to' provided it does not interfere with people's quality of life.

In our area one of the latest planning applications;
A pub has applied for an outside 'gazebo style' building for smokers. I will not object.
Separate from the pub I see no harm in this and expect other areas could do the same.
If like me you do not smoke, will not allow smoking in your house, then keep out.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ENTER!!

The last four posts contain a lot of sense.

Amberlina

My wife is also an asthmatic, smoke causes her serious breathing problems for days after.
A celebration do at the local or some function hall was a serious risk for her.
So I agree with what you say.

We used to call the pub smoking room the "snug" and as Amberlina says the smoke permeated the rest of the building.


But as liz says



This is a great idea, and will work. No staff, no connection with the bar, except maybe a hatch, and good ventilation. whats the problem.

Same in hospitals, have you seen the little groups of patients huddled outside the front door in all weathers, poor sad creatures! but they need their fix in decency.

Astro

This is so true, there are places of adult entertainment (pubs are one) where kids should be banned.

(Incidentally I agree with women's or men's only clubs or whatever.)

But the last sentence is also important, we have got to get back to letting children grow up and develop naturally, it takes time and experience to deal with the world, it is our responsibility to protect kids till they get their wings!
Also - if I'm in the presence of children I modify my behaviour to suit. I don't expect to have to do that in a pub!

I would concur. My parents belong to a Golf Club and obviously there are bars, a restaurant, a games room etc. but they have clear rules.

Women are not allowed in the men's bar or the snooker room, Men are not allowed in the Ladies lounge. Kids (under 18's) are not allowed in the bars. They all accept that the various rooms cater to the various club members. The members own the clubhouse and the own the course and the Golf club council maintains a strict policy on dress code and multiple other areas such as it being a non-profit making bar. It is run for the enjoyment and benefit of the shareholders and they are shareholders because the club organised a share issue to purchase it all from the local council a few years ago.

And yet the shareholders are denied the right to vote on club policy on private land, and now my mother has walk down 2 sets of staircases to stand outside on Saturday night on what is arguably the windyiest point in Blackpool if she is to accompany my father to official functions.

The club could easily transform one of the rooms into a smoking room and yet they are denied that option .... it is wrong that the Government can interfere with the running of private members clubs.

Here you go Astro.

http://www.shooting-northwest.co.uk/

Oh thanks Smokie - that's really good of you.

I'll give it go - always good idea to add another string to my bow so to speak.

I'll wait till the end of the month when Mars conjuncts my natal Mars and consider it a birthday present to myself.