Smoking ban

[Da Man Clay]

Dont smoke, want the ban.
Hate the smell of smoke on my clothes after a night out.

 

[clapham_gull]

The ban will now (or eventually) include Withdean the last I read on the subject, since Football Stadia (whilst not being technically classed as "enclosed") are areas where smoke can annoy. This could also potentially include the areas around where the food vans are.

...that's the implication.

 

[Al Bion]

I work for one of this country's largest tobacco manufacturers so have to say I don't really support a ban as it might play havoc with my profit share. Apart from the financial considerations for me I guess, as a non-smoker, it will be nice to not have meals spoilt by smoke but I do think it's a shame that pubs can't make their own choice and then the punters can choose which pubs they want to go to.

Just for info though, after a sharp drop in sales of cigs in Ireland when their ban first came into effect, our information now shows that smoking has actually increased past the level it was pre-ban.

 

[Starry]

Football stadia aren't classed as enclosed here, so you can still smoke; although the GAA voluntarily got Croke Park classed as enclosed, so after November theres no smoking at Ireland home games for at least a year... and no more terraces, ever

They are classed as enclosed space here and are covered by the ban. At least that is what Leeds told us with our STs.

Don't smoke and not that fussed about it.

Al Bion - who do you work for? The ban in other countries has done wonders for my father and family's business. They make the machinery to make cigarettes and have never had so much demand as there is right now. Opening a new factory in a few weeks.

Nevermind, I see you are "Up North" they are down south. lol

 

[Cian]

haven't all the pubs gone bankrupt yet ?

No, and they're not going to, despite constant scaremongering from the Vitners Federation and their propaganda rag.

The Dublin pub trade has been on the slide for years, nothings changed there - pubs are having to combine and sell off their spare licence, and so on. Been happening since the 1990s.

Pubs in the suburbs now do a hell of a lot better, as people who would have stayed at home go out; and they all have off-licences anyway, so the people who stay at home to smoke and drink end up buying their beer where they'd have bought it anyway.

The industry as a whole now employs ~8% more people than it did before the ban.

 

[Al Bion]

Al Bion - who do you work for? The ban in other countries has done wonders for my father and family's business. They make the machinery to make cigarettes and have never had so much demand as there is right now. Opening a new factory in a few weeks.

Nevermind, I see you are "Up North" they are down south. lol

Starry, I work for Gallaher - we make and distribute B&H, Silk Cut, Mayfair, Hamlet etc etc in this country and various others overseas. You are right that demand is going through the roof right now but most of it is fuelled by demand from countries of the former Soviet Union. The decline in smoking in the UK has pretty much levelled off though many more people smoke the cheaper brands or use roll-your-own tobacco (which aren't so good for our profit margins!).

 

[Robot Chicken]

According to anti-smoking group ASH, tax revenue in this country from smoking is approximately £10.5 billion per annum. The estimated cost to the NHS from smoking every year is about £1.7 billion.

Where will the shortfall come from? Higher income tax? VAT?

 

[British Bulldog]

I smoke and do want the ban. It is bloody annoying having smoke in your face or ash on your clothes when you are watching the football. Does it really take much willpower to wait for half time and/or full time? Very antisocial. There would be no need for the ban to be enofrced properly if people smoked away from others. Plenty of spots around Withers to stand in the fresh air and smoke away from others.

Smoking in restaurants as well. Although I smoke, I don't particularly want to breath in smoke when I am eating. More often than not when in the pub, I nip outside for a cigarette.

Totaly agree with that fella.

 

[Starry]

Starry, I work for Gallaher - we make and distribute B&H, Silk Cut, Mayfair, Hamlet etc etc in this country and various others overseas. You are right that demand is going through the roof right now but most of it is fuelled by demand from countries of the former Soviet Union. The decline in smoking in the UK has pretty much levelled off though many more people smoke the cheaper brands or use roll-your-own tobacco (which aren't so good for our profit margins!).

Ah OK. My dad company is a step before you making the machinery and supply the engineers to fix it when it goes wrong, they don't go so far as actual cigarettes or tobacco.

 

[Cian]

Where will the shortfall come from? Higher income tax? VAT?

Over here, its been close to exactly offset by higher corporation tax, income tax and excise duty returns from the increase in business for the pub and restuarant trade.

 

[Robot Chicken]

Over here, its been close to exactly offset by higher corporation tax, income tax and excise duty returns from the increase in business for the pub and restuarant trade.

Okay fair point but if my pocket suffers then let these smokers smoke, I say. Drop the ban.

 

[Cian]

Okay fair point but if my pocket suffers then let these smokers smoke, I say. Drop the ban.

Well, once you ignore the muffled whimpers of the publicans, there hasn't actually been an adverse affect on the economy anywhere thats implemented one yet. Mainly because the smoking rate barely falls.

 

[Grendel]

Where will the shortfall come from? Higher income tax? VAT?

Interestingly, ASH seem to dodge that one. The only thing I could find on their website to do with it was the following:

"...the Chancellor must fund public spending from somewhere. Income taxes, VAT, and corporation taxes are among those he could choose to increase...but in each case, the economy would suffer in some way."

 

[clapham_gull]

They are classed as enclosed space here and are covered by the ban. At least that is what Leeds told us with our STs.

Don't smoke and not that fussed about it.

Al Bion - who do you work for? The ban in other countries has done wonders for my father and family's business. They make the machinery to make cigarettes and have never had so much demand as there is right now. Opening a new factory in a few weeks.

Nevermind, I see you are "Up North" they are down south. lol

I read they are going to ammend the bill so areas such as stadia are included whether "enclosed" or not.

I guess there was some discussion over that, but now they are included anyway as are bus stops.

 

[TSB]

do smoke,the ban sounds good to me

 

[bhaexpress]

Where will the shortfall come from? Higher income tax? VAT?

The story is that if there was no revenue from tobacco income tax would got up Four Pence in the Pound ..... Think about it.

 

[Robbie G]

Ban sounds good to me, hate the smell after being into pub/restaurant

 

[Tom Bombadil]

The story is that if there was no revenue from tobacco income tax would got up Four Pence in the Pound ..... Think about it.

So is smoking patriotic then?

 

[desprateseagull]

if 'smoking kills'. why on earth is tobacco allowed to be sold anyway? surely it breaks health and safety laws to have such 'dngerous' goods for sale..

The places i have been to WITH a smoking ban in force are much cleaner, fresher, and generally more inviting.

Dont try and tell me that smokers are proppig up the NHS etc, as hardly any tax from smokers goes directly there anyway..


Take this filthy, expensive habit and assign it to history. long with anyone who fels hey are being victimised.. WE (the clean breathers!) have to put up with the stinky hair and clothes, just by being in the same room.

rant over!

just an afterthought: when people smoke less, they will be fitter, and less prone to taking sickies- so UK becomes more productive, and NHD less strained..?

where did those rose tinted spec go..?!

 

[Gully]

MYOB, my understanding is that Lansdown Road has closed for redevelopment and that all home rugby and footy games will be played at Croke Park until it opens again. Do you know how big Lansdown Road will be afterwards and why they don't just play everything at Croke Park (though I do understand that the GAA don't particularly like footy or rugby), surely that would make economic sense. Cheers.