quote:

Originally posted by Mezz:

quote:

Originally posted by MICHAEL_LA_VIOLA:
Didn't really know where to post this, but does anyone know what time the smoking ban comes in?

6:00am on Sunday 1st July, mein freund.

I reckon a 00:00 ban might have been viewed as quite difficult to enforce seeing as most clubs don't kick out until the early hours of Sunday (light a tab at 11:59pm and land a £1000 fine before you've taken 3 puffs), so I presume that the government believe we'll all be tucked up in bed by 6:00am on the day...

Cheers Mezz! Reason I ask was that some mates are playing a gig on the 30th, headlining at 11:45...I was wondering how it would work if it was midnight.

(For the record, I don't smoke.)

I went to a Welsh pub a couple of weeks ago. It stank of stale food and cheap deodorant on dirty flesh. But of course "compromise" is a word not understood by this government.

Can't say I'm chuffed about the smoking ban. I don't even live in Britain and am a non-smoker, but my understanding was that smoking-related illnesses cost the NHS 1.5bn, yet revenue from tobacco sales pumps 7bn into the economy - so unlike the prohibition of drugs, the legal consumption and sale of tobacco pays for the damage it causes plus 5bn in profit. I forget where I read that though and if I'm wrong I'd appreciate it if someone told me. Anyway, assuming that's correct, with the huge quantities of packs of cigarettes not bought and more and more quitters, presumably the deficit will have to be made up via some kind of taxation. At least tax on cigs is voluntary tax. Hopefully the prohibitive approach to tobacco will have the opposite of all its intended effects and anti-smoking cissies made to look the state parasites that they are. These people want to deprive you of a hospital bed so they can eat a meal in a restaurant without smelling a cigarette. Absolute vermin.

Tobacco contributes massively to the common good. It kills most consumers (consumers fully aware of the dangers) off before they reach retirement age. In this day and age of low birth rates and aging populations, fewer daft old buggers draining the state purse is a definite plus.

Never thought I'd agree with one of your posts.

I suppose I agree with it a bit too! I get tired of this kind of thing in the UK - moral crusades, where people who complain about this sort of stuff vociferously often come across as being some of the most intolerant people on earth. I know some poeple will have been unfairly affected by say passive smoking and that's sad and I feel for them but it should be put in perspective methinks. I guess what I am trying to say is once in a while even if you do belong to the majority (even the moral one) just back down yeah? Give the tubthumping I DEMAND CHANGE!!! business a rest? Some bloke's smoking next to you, well grumble a bit your mates and look for another table to go to - why do so many people have to jump to confrontation and agro so readily? The majority picks up causes and wham bham it's like some moral frenzy that the country is whipped up in.

I don't smoke (apart from a bit of da herb from time to time - ayyyeeeee!) and I'm happy it's not going to be in pubs anymore and especially restaurants but I don't like this kind of 1984 tinged party triumphalism that comes with this sort of thing - eurgh. Me, I don't like cars tonnes (full stop) - they cause pollution, they cause/contribute to bronchial illnesses, they kill people, they contribute to social exclusion (and so on) - I don't think I am but most people would think I'm a bloody nutter for saying lets do away with the things or clamp down on them but of course these days if the moral majority (they're like a marauding tribe or something - "onto the next thing!!!") isn't behind your cuase then for a fruitloop

sorry that meant to say you're a fruitloop

there's probably tonnes of other mistakes in there too (it was a long post!)

GTTMUH

Finishing the 3 Peaks Challenge last night - tired, wet and cold but ecstatic. I never want to see another 8loody mountain!!

quote:

Originally posted by Curva Fiesole:
GTTMUH

Finishing the 3 Peaks Challenge last night - tired, wet and cold but ecstatic. I never want to see another 8loody mountain!!

Well done Sir. You inspired me to do something similar for a few minutes there

The smoking ban is unjustifiable but many of the reasons have been explained...

Muse @ Wembley Stadium makes me very happy.

I don't know what you pro-smoking lobby are on about. Yeah, freedom, man, we should be free to do what we like, poison who we want, stink up building, clothes, cars, drop fag butts all over the place, we support the economy through tax! Load of rubbish. I'm not an anti-smoking zealot but...I've just had an uncle die through smoking (no question) aged 60 and he has a son and daughter going the same way. I'd question the amount it costs the NHS (if I could) but I'm sure no-one includes the cost to families if someone dies, financially as well as emotionally. I hate the constant comparison to motor vehicles: what intrinsic value does a fag have? It's not going to take me shopping, take me on holiday, it's not going to chase after cigarette smugglers, take me to hospital! Cars are getting cleaner, even supposed 'low tar' ciggies are poison. Don't worry about the tax, the Government will still get money out of you some other way.

Civil liberties, my backside. Save it for something that's worth it.


Oh, I smoke a cigarette about once a quarter

And why are the people opposed to smoking cynically called the 'moral majority', PC brigade/gestapo? Maybe lots of people just don't like it. Sounds similar to the arguments used to 'justify' Bernard Manning (don't RIP).

But why is a blanket ban needed? I don't go to the pub for a healthy lifestyle, but to rot my liver and smoke fags. If I want to go somewhere healthy I'll go to a gym. Why am I unable to smoke down my members only club?

EL aka GL

GTTMUH:

me being unbanned! I posted naughty things about the Diana concert on the News Forum and was suspended. Quite right too. I shouldn't be allowed out.

I think I know what type of thing you'd write so I'd be banned right along with you ! Sycophantic nonsense.

Of course if you're a Royalist I got it terribly, terribly wrong !

My favourite news story of the past few days:
The Irish coast guard are called out to rescue 2 men from a sinking dinghy. They rescue the men but find lots of white packages floating around??
Turns out these 2 thought the ideal way to smuggle 1 ton of cocaine was in a dinghy.

I doubt many Royalists have much time for Diana either. Another post for which they justified my ban was one I made to you BnB on 25-01-07 concerning the Milan derby and watching cricket in the Caribbean. Ho hum. Mustn't moan as I've been allowed back.

Nadal making it to the Wimbledon final! Woohoo!

Somehow now though he's got to win against Federer!

I went out Friday night. In the morning I noticed my clothes didn't stink of smoke, my throat wasn't sore and my eyes weren't stinging.

I went down the pub last night and the place was deserted. Couldn't help wondering where all the non-smokers were. After all we were assured that they would come flocking to smoke-free pubs.

Well, Giancarlo, that's because if you went out on Friday night you weren't on fire any more, therefore by the following morning the smell of smoke would have reduc....

Why, yes, that is my coat, thank you.