Question for Kilties in Scotland

[McClef]

But Robertson think of the poor smokers on a Dumfries pub crawl who struggle to get in a few drags in between pubs!

Most countries in Europe are now smoke free in public places. Most did not give a choice for establishments to decide their own policy on the issue, one notable exception being Spain - that allows both smokers and non-smokers to make their own free choices. I am all for the right of choice rather than governmental diktat, especially when they take bans to ridiculous extremes such as open air platforms at a railway station.

[Carolina Kiltman]

Perhaps a bit off topic, but the smoking ban has been a Godsend for us, as my wife is asthmatic, and violently allergic to tobacco smoke! Now we can go out whenever we wish with out the worry of an attack.

I have to agree that obesity is a real health problem, but it's only effect is primarily on the individual. (It does raise medical costs for the entire community though).

[Birddog]

I enjoy coming out of a pub and not smelling of smoke, but I'm with McClef. The imposing of a smoking ban goes against the privacy rights of pub and restaraunt owners. I also don't buy alot of the second hand smoke arguments. Only one case I have seen where it made real sense. A flight attendent on a major airline back when smoking was allowed developed lung cancer, and she didn't smoke. That much second hand smoke causing cancer is understandable. The idea that you can get second hand smoke from going to a pub is laughable, unless you live there. But like I said; it is darned nice to not smell your clothes in the morning and have them reek. And for folks like Carolina and his Mrs, it is a much bigger bonus.

A funny I once heard...90% of statistics can be made to say whatever you want...50% of the time.

[Ozman1944]

If second-hand smoke were as deadly as we are now being told, I'm astonished that any of us survived at all! Born in 1940's, we grew up with continual smoke, in homes, restuarants, trams, trains, buses, hospitals, and Doctor's offices, not to mention shops & supermarkets. The only place it was forbidden was Church -but we have incense-and movies theaters (in Australia).
Yet here was all are in our 60's and up. And we appear to be dying of the same illnesses as non-smokers pretty much. (Chronic smokers excepted of course) So the second hand stuff sounds suspiciously like overkill (pun intended).
Plus I worked in an Asbestos roofed factory (They re-roofed it while we worked underneath, admiring the 'snow' that filtered down...)

[McClef]

You can prove pretty much anything you want to with statistics and the case of the stewardess when weighed against the thousands who worked on smoking permiited planes who didn't get it seems to prove a point.

Also the cabin air was properly changed constantly whereas now it often isn't and people have gotten ill from the resultant enginge fumes and bacteria etc. Plus you never saw all the cases of air rage that you hear about now.

So many of the non-smokers understandable points could have been addressed my other means that would have kept both sides of the argument happy. It's not just a case of pubs where a quick trip outside is a relatively convenient and easy thing but what of those condemned to long hours of travelling on trains and planes who cannot even top up their nicotine levels on a platform or airside as they used to which at least helped make the smokeless travelling a little easier to bear. It hardly encourages smokers to use public transport for longer journeys does it...

[pdcorlis]

Having visited England and Scotland both before and after "the ban" I can tell you it has made a marked difference for the two non-smokers that live in this house.

[kenny graham]

By asking these stupid questions it's obvious that you have never been to scotland, do you think that this is some third world country, some of the most famous inventors and philanthropists were scots, we are a very proud nation, so less o taking the pish eh.

[Darkislander]

I spent 28 years in the hotel business and wished the smoking ban had come a lot sooner than it did. Yes it has had a slight impact on drink sales, the sale of food in bars has since increased. So I've got 28 years worth of other peoples smoke in my lungs. It's all been worth it - not !

[Paul Henry]

I for one am so very glad that there the ban has come in, it is so much more pleasant to go out not just to pubs, but to all sorts of other places. Despite those that protest otherwise , it seems only sensible to believe that smoking isn't good for the body , for either the smoker or the surrounding people.
Of course with more non smoking happening there will be lots of knock on effects... not least the fact that governments all around the world will have to work out how to raise the missing revenues!
Perhaps they will need to employ the thrifty Scots!

[Carolina Kiltman]

A funny I once heard...90% of statistics can be made to say whatever you want...50% of the time.

Both Mark Twain and B. Disraeli said almost the same thing at about the same time; "There are lies, damned lies, and then there are statistics." Or there are liars, damned liars and then there are statisticians." I could add more, but I won't. Statistics are a neutral tool, only, and it is the interpretation of them that causes all the rumpus.