Because there are often so many repetitive comments on the wall in facebook groups, I have setup this page to showcase the best comments from both groups. So let everyone know what your opinion is and it may well end up on this page.
Comments from the group: Can we find 1 MILLION people that DON'T want smoking back in pubs?
Angela Pearson (Chicago) 16/2/08
Said:
"I feel that people have the right to smoke, but I also feel that I have the right to be healthy. I have asthma and I am highly allergic to cigarette smoke. Even walking by someone smoking outside will make me cough and get tight chested. I just thank legislation that my home state of Washington (US) is completely smoke free in all public places and within 25 feet of any public entrance, window, or ventilation system that may carry the smoke inside (8 meters, for you metric people!). I live in Illinois currently (military), and though they have finally banned smoking in most public places, they're not strict on entrances. The local mall has covered hallway-like sidewalks for entrances, and people stand within these and smoke. I can understand their want for cover, but I wish I could scream at them that I literally hurt when I walk by. I'm just glad I don't have to worry about it inside anymore. My next battle is my parents (who cooperate and understand) and my in-laws (who don't)."
Melanie Crawford (University of Leeds) 14/2/08
Said:
"I love the smoking ban! no more "accidentally" getting stubbed by some drunken loon dancing crazily whilst holding a cigarette, and no more waking up the next morning with my hair stinking like an ashtray :) ppl still smoke at bus stops tho! that's my main niggle now!!"
Ben Knowles (Oakwood Park Grammar School) 13/2/08
Said:
"smoking and defending it by saying how bad alcohol is....well fair doos...but I don't really see anything on the group saying alcohol is harmless. BIG assumptions being made there! And even if alcohol is worse than cigarettes - doesn't make cigarettes right or good. Alcohol in moderation has been shown to be healthy. Can't say the same about cigarettes. Saw a brilliant poster in a pub recently actually...basically saying how the residue from smoking is smoke and we're forced to live with that. The residue from drinking is urine. So how would smokers like it if we went and urinated over them after we've had a beer? Slightly extreme poster, true, but accurate I feel.
And Jim, if your experiences of the effects of smoking aren't enough proof for the damage it causes, then I don't know what is. Alas smokers will try and rationalise it in some way, I'm sure."
Comments from the group: Can we find 1 MILLION people that DO want smoking back in pubs?
Tony Duckmanton (London) 15/2/08
Said:
You couldnt make it up.. From todays Guardian(UK) "A ban on the sale of cigarettes to anyone who does no pay for a government smoking permit has been proposed by Health England, a ministerial advisory board.
The permit might cost as little as £10, but acquiring it could be made difficult if the forms where sufficiently complex".
www.gaurdian.co.uk/uk/2008/feb/15
Aleena Brown (London) 11/2/08
Said:
"I have joined this group purely because I'm a smoker, and I won't be here for long.
I SMOKE but I also work in a pub. I don't mind breathing in my smoke, but breathing in 80 other people's smoke for 10 hours a night wreaks havoc on the lungs - trust me I've coughed up enough shit to know. Since the smoking ban my lungs are feeling pretty dandy and I'd like to keep 'em that way.
In addition to this, I no longer worry about taking my two lil bros out to eat. If they wanna kill themselves with smoke when they're older then that's their choice, but who am I, or anyone else, to literally force it down their tiny throats by smoking all around them????
As it stands, I'm not that bothered about the risk to my health from smoking, but some people are worried about their health, and they have every right to be. Who are we to force people who care about their health to have to breathe in our deadly smoke."
Gem Morgan 11/2/08
Said:
"i resent the fact us smokers r pushed outside 2 smoke jus cus sum jumped up twats dnt like it, so y dnt they go off n complain 2 shut down every factory, and remove every car off the road etc thats also pollutin 'their' air. as 4 the government if they dnt want us smokin in public areas they shud put a ban on cigs altogetha n stop makin em but, NO they r quite happy 2 keep takin our money while we suffer at the same time! ditch this pathetic ban and get bak 2 how it used 2 b, a pint, a smoke n a game of pool!!!"
