1 week in to the smoking ban, how you coping?

7 Jul 2007

Well it's been a week(ish) since our lovely government placed restrictions on my favorite vice and I was wondering if those it had affected had noticed a big difference or not.
Has it affected your social life in anyway? Perhaps your spending less time in the pub or have you turned into some nicotine starved 2 headed monsters due to having to restrict your intake. Also have the non smokers amongst us noticed any difference? Is your local a more enjoyable environment for you?
As for myself it's not really bothered me despite being a heavy (20 a day) smoker, although I do think it's a bit on the nanny state side. I can see no big argument against it as I was always courteous when smoking amongst non smokers. Never doing so when people were eating and asking passengers in my car if they minded if I lit up etc.....
However I do tend to forget about the ban on the odd occasion. Such as last Monday when I was throwing a few shapes in a Midlands night club :happy: It was student night and drinks were cheap (I know I'm over 30 but the lovely person I was with was a 20yo uni student :rascal: so I sort of had a legit reason to be there biggrin

) Anyhoo after an hour or so downing very under priced drinks it was time for a fag and without thinking I simply lit up. Bloody hell I soon realized the error of my ways when within a few drags at least 5 people pointed out my mistake (in a polite way I hasten to add) I quickly put the offending coffin nail out but it was too late the door staff were upon me :scared: in fairness to them a quick apology and a flash of my SIA card and I was allowed to stay in the club :D
Then there was Wednesday night......I've been away at a conference (yep despite my 'attitude and foolishness' in leaving my old job I have with great ease found a very well paid new one) I was relaxing in my very pricey hotel room ordered some room service and having genuinely forgot about the ban lit up a cigar of all things. Room service arrived to a room smelling of smoke left the drinks and went away, 10 minutes a not very happy at all manager was knocking on the door not only wanting to throw me out but (quite rightly so) was threatening to call the police on me :shock: Like I said it was a genuine mistake due to the fact I was a tad tipsy so plenty of sorry's later and a donation to a charity that was also using one of the conference rooms meant I managed to keep my room.
So far to date I've not been getting along too well with this anti smoking ban and both times have been genuinely embarrassed by my actions so I hope others are coping better smile

<<<<<<< Now in the process of typing a well worded letter of apology a very pricey midlands hotel redface

and before the one who likes to critasise my career options reads this and starts.......my new job is as a self employed contractor and I paid for the hotel AND the conference myself just to make sure I was up to speed on my new position with my new company so no they will not be pouring scorn on me for my actions nor will they even know about it.

7 Jul 2007

Went out for a spot of lunch at a local beachside pub last Thursday. Tuna and cucumber sandwich made with about half a loaf of crusty bread.
Left the pub about half an hour later with the same non smelly clothes and hair that we went in with.
Result..2 very happy customers smile

7 Jul 2007

have to admit that finding sureptitious places to catch a crafty fag, and recepticles to bin the smouldering butt at speed has proven a little problematic at times.... however, I havent done all that badly so far.
As far as I can tell... only four bin-fires, one nieghbours' hedge left ablaze, and one passing school-child with minor burns... well, they will wear hoodies!!!
No suspicion has been cast my way, though sadly I had to loose a valued colleague yesterday, the powers that be assumed it was they who were smoking... shame
aside from that, the inclemant weather has kept serious dammage to a minimum.
lp

7 Jul 2007

Same here Fire - had brekkie this morning in a cafe that had spare seats in the ex-smoking area - fantastic.

7 Jul 2007

hasn't made the slightest bit of difference to me. Been out for dinner/lunch twice and I wouldn't have smoked in that environment anyway.
Other than that, really not fussed as I'm generally not in situations where my smoking is a problem - eg: visit pubs etc.
Would really,reallyappreciate people in the chatrooms not preaching their anti-smoking bullshit at me though. rolleyes

7 Jul 2007

Just wish that all people had read the new laws carefully. So many people seem to think that its a total smoking ban i.e. you are not allowed to smoke anywhere. They forgot to read the bit that said " in PUBLIC ENCLOSED spaces". Went to the door (of my house) to take a delivery the day the ban started with a fag in my hand and the delivery guy said "You heard about the smoking ban?" Sent him away with a flea in his ear with the words floating to him as he ran down the path "no poxy MP is going to tell me what I can and cannot do in my own home" Its a bit like reading profiles on here ... a lot of the people just "looked at the pictures" when they saw UK smoking ban reported.
Mind you I would like car manufacturers to put an ashtray on the driver's right side cos I always smoke right handed in the car (gear stick is for left hand) and cos there is nothing there to put butt in used to chuck em out the window .... but now I can be fined £80 for that (if they can catch me). Of course it's still ok to throw crisp packets and drink bottles and plastic bags out of car windows .... just no butts :shock:

7 Jul 2007

Quote by Marya_Northeast
Would really, really appreciate people in the chatrooms not preaching their anti-smoking bullshit at me though.

Bloody hell that is thorough, I didn't realize the anti smoking ban covered internet chat rooms as well :shock:
lol

7 Jul 2007

Quote by buckingfabe
Mind you I would like car manufacturers to put an ashtray on the driver's right side cos I always smoke right handed in the car (gear stick is for left hand)

7 Jul 2007

! week into the smoking ban - well - I'm doing pretty well actually - mind you I did give up over 3 years ago!
:twisted:

7 Jul 2007

Quote by sheddy

Mind you I would like car manufacturers to put an ashtray on the driver's right side cos I always smoke right handed in the car (gear stick is for left hand)

Is it even legal to smoke and drive? I don't mean under the new laws, I know people have been fined in the past for drinking or even eating apples so I was of the understanding it was both hands on the wheel unless you were using another of the vehicles controls, gear stick, indicator stalk etc etc.
Perfectly legal to smoke while you are driving in the UK although some countries have banned it. However it is illegal to eat, drink, shave and put on make up while driving and you can be fined for doing any of these

7 Jul 2007

yep no problems here
still smoking after sex...........
both hands on the wheel
how can i rub a leg if i do that||||||||||||
just waiting for some ones shed to catch fire..:red

7 Jul 2007

well i went out last night to a function in a public house and to be perfectly honest not being able to have a ciggy in there really DONE MY FECKIN HEAD IN, you can get arrested for racism and bullying but i think the goverment is bullying us smokers and is a form of racism making us be seperated from non smokers its like the old days blacks being seperated from whites and blacks stood up for themselves (rightly so) and won but i can assure you us smokers will never win , we will always be looked upon as scum by the stuffed shirt non smokers.

7 Jul 2007

Quote by ethelandfred
well i went out last night to a function in a public house and to be perfectly honest not being able to have a ciggy in there really DONE MY FECKIN HEAD IN, you can get arrested for racism and bullying but i think the goverment is bullying us smokers and is a form of racism making us be seperated from non smokers its like the old days blacks being seperated from whites and blacks stood up for themselves (rightly so) and won but i can assure you us smokers will never win , we will always be looked upon as scum by the stuffed shirt non smokers.

I can assure you that I for one do not see smokers as scum and I think your comments were a little uncalled for. It's not bullying. Maybe segregation, but they are doing it to stop people suffering the effects of passive smoking.

7 Jul 2007

Quote by ethelandfred
well i went out last night to a function in a public house and to be perfectly honest not being able to have a ciggy in there really DONE MY FECKIN HEAD IN, you can get arrested for racism and bullying but i think the goverment is bullying us smokers and is a form of racism making us be seperated from non smokers its like the old days blacks being seperated from whites and blacks stood up for themselves (rightly so) and won but i can assure you us smokers will never win , we will always be looked upon as scum by the stuffed shirt non smokers.

:shock:
your comparing a ban on smoking in public and work places to what happened to black people?...i've heard it all now!

7 Jul 2007

Ive not smoked for 7 days & haven't killed anyone yet!!! lol

7 Jul 2007

Good luck to all you quitters. hang in there and do it. I stopped 25 years ago. Really glad I did.

7 Jul 2007

I went to the pub last night for the first time since the ban and it surprisingly didn't really bother me. I know what you mean sheddy about forgetting - I sat down towards the end of the night and automatically opened my handbag to get my cigs out. One thing I did notice though towards the end of the night a couple of the pubs I went in really smelled horrible!

7 Jul 2007

Hi Varca
Before I start to answer this, have this kiss

Quote by varca
I would be quite happy to still light up in pubs etc, though not in a restaurant as I never have anyway. I will face the £50 fine for the whole evening, they cannot serve more than one fine on me per evening at a time. I will pay it within 15 days and it will cost me £30. I am not going to be dictated to by a big brother state. I do wonder though, how they plan to make up the deficit in tax revenue due to those who have given up smoking now or who have cut down. I think non-smokers are in for a shock as we smokers keep your tax bill down believe it or not lol. This may or may not be true, but at least my laundry bill will go down so I won't mind too much. I am a believer in fate and to me, based on experience of those that have had it, cancer is something that is inherant and if you are destined to get it, you will, as a smoker or passive smoker or not as the case may be. There are too may people in my family that have smoked Capstan Full Strength and similar, in fact any cigarette at all in the realms of 60 a day for all of their adult lives and have lived to be 90+ to make me worry. Conversely far too many in my family who have never smoked, have died of cancer. Everyone in my family so far that has died of cancer has smoked. Also those that are ill at the moment smoke. I can do the math. Rant over and I know lots will disagree. Separate room for smokers and non smokers, would that be too diffiult to manage? It may be difficult for people who are running businesses that do not give them the extra income needed to seperate their public spaces. I think not. Just my opinion :D And yes I do know that if I do light up, even if I am prepared to be fined, I would probably be banned by the pub management as they too would be fined but this is about principal. I understand what you mean when you say about being told what to do etc by the government as I too have my issues with the big brother is watching you attitude that is becoming inherant in this country, but this is one issue that I do totally support. I smoked from the age of 13 to 26. I'm not a non smoking preacher, never have been but I reserve the right to have as healthy a life as possible while I'm here and not being a passive smoker will help me and my children hopefully to achieve this. European court of appeal I can hear you calling....

When the ban was not in existance I did what I imagine many people did. I stayed away from pubs, clubs and other public places where I knew smoke would be a problem for me. It restricted my life in quite a few ways. Now I'm able to go where I want when I want without restriction. I dare say that any tax that is not earned from cigarettes and tobacco for the government will quickly be replaced by others like me who may well go back into the pubs etc and drink more so they'll earn on that instead. wink

I hope this is taken in the spirit it's written and not as an attack on you hun as it is just something I feel very strongly inside about for many reasons.
:rose:

7 Jul 2007

Quote by firelizard
I dare say that any tax that is not earned from cigarettes and tobacco for the government will quickly be replaced by others like me who may well go back into the pubs etc and drink more so they'll earn on that instead.

I can't see as they will lose that much in tax as smokers will still smoke simple as that. When I get a cold and have one of them horrible sore throats that go with it I still smoke despite it hurting when I inhale. Take my stay in the hotel for instance, my room was on the 6th floor and a good 10 minutes away from the foyer yet I still trudged all they way down when ever I wanted a ciggy. Then there was the other night when I was in the hotel bar chatting to a lady who was staying there, it was 2 am and absolutely p*ssing down outside yet despite this hotel having no type of shelter for smokers and me wearing my best suit whilst she wore a backless dress we both went and stood in the rain getting wet and her freezing simply to have a cig. My point is it's an addiction and people who are addicted won't stop until they are ready, willing or even able to do so smile

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8 Jul 2007

Quote by varca
I would be quite happy to still light up in pubs etc, though not in a restaurant as I never have anyway. I will face the £50 fine for the whole evening, they cannot serve more than one fine on me per evening at a time. I will pay it within 15 days and it will cost me £30. I am not going to be dictated to by a big brother state. I do wonder though, how they plan to make up the deficit in tax revenue due to those who have given up smoking now or who have cut down. I think non-smokers are in for a shock as we smokers keep your tax bill down believe it or not lol. I am a believer in fate and to me, based on experience of those that have had it, cancer is something that is inherant and if you are destined to get it, you will, as a smoker or passive smoker or not as the case may be. There are too may people in my family that have smoked Capstan Full Strength and similar, in fact any cigarette at all in the realms of 60 a day for all of their adult lives and have lived to be 90+ to make me worry. Conversely far too many in my family who have never smoked, have died of cancer. I can do the math. Rant over and I know lots will disagree. Separate room for smokers and non smokers, would that be too diffiult to manage? I think not. Just my opinion :D And yes I do know that if I do light up, even if I am prepared to be fined, I would probably be banned by the pub management as they too would be fined but this is about principal. European court of appeal I can hear you calling....

Given that the european court of human rights has just thrown-out an appeal (13:2) against being made to incriminate yourself, and that many EU countries have no-smoking measures of their own, I am sure that any case would fail.
Yes, the fine will be (reduced) to you. But it will be UP TO for EACH detected offence for the person running the establishment, and they do not have the pay-on-demand option, they get to go to court. I already know what that means, it means the pub throw you out immediately.
And since it is a recorded offence, it will affect their licencing.

8 Jul 2007

Quote by buckingfabe
.
Mind you I would like car manufacturers to put an ashtray on the driver's right side cos I always smoke right handed in the car (gear stick is for left hand) and cos there is nothing there to put butt in used to chuck em out the window .... but now I can be fined £80 for that (if they can catch me). Of course it's still ok to throw crisp packets and drink bottles and plastic bags out of car windows .... just no butts :shock:

Not in newcastle city centre..... They are very quick to to fine anyone who drops litter on the floor...as one of my work collegues found out......
the one thing noticed in newcastle city centre last night is that a lot of outdoor drinking areas have suddenly appeared......which is okay when it a nice night like last night.... i want to see what it wull be like on a bloody cold minus 5 night in january!!!! or a night when it is chucking it down!!!! lol

:lol: :lol: :lol:

8 Jul 2007

hasnt made any difference to me as there has been a smoking ban at my workplace for two years now. What is annoying is the fact my work has now took the ban as reason to go beyond the law and ban it totaly from the factory grounds.
I would like to give up and have in the past but because of my work as well as the government dictating what lifestyle and pass times i shouldnt be doing i make a point of going for a ciggy when i am allowed at break and even take my lambert and butler brolly incase it rains lol

8 Jul 2007

Quote by lilacgem
Ive not smoked for 7 days & haven't killed anyone yet!!!

well done hun kiss

for me, I have not been out this weekend due to the fact that I can't smoke. I have noticed that alot of our neighbours have said the same as well.
I have an appointment to see the doc next friday & gonna try those new tablets.
Hope these work coz nothing else has so far.

8 Jul 2007

Quote by varca
Hi Varca
Before I start to answer this, have this
I would be quite happy to still light up in pubs etc, though not in a restaurant as I never have anyway. I will face the £50 fine for the whole evening, they cannot serve more than one fine on me per evening at a time. I will pay it within 15 days and it will cost me £30. I am not going to be dictated to by a big brother state. I do wonder though, how they plan to make up the deficit in tax revenue due to those who have given up smoking now or who have cut down. I think non-smokers are in for a shock as we smokers keep your tax bill down believe it or not lol. This may or may not be true, but at least my laundry bill will go down so I won't mind too much. I am a believer in fate and to me, based on experience of those that have had it, cancer is something that is inherant and if you are destined to get it, you will, as a smoker or passive smoker or not as the case may be. There are too may people in my family that have smoked Capstan Full Strength and similar, in fact any cigarette at all in the realms of 60 a day for all of their adult lives and have lived to be 90+ to make me worry. Conversely far too many in my family who have never smoked, have died of cancer. Everyone in my family so far that has died of cancer has smoked. Also those that are ill at the moment smoke. I can do the math. Rant over and I know lots will disagree. Separate room for smokers and non smokers, would that be too diffiult to manage? It may be difficult for people who are running businesses that do not give them the extra income needed to seperate their public spaces. I think not. Just my opinion :D And yes I do know that if I do light up, even if I am prepared to be fined, I would probably be banned by the pub management as they too would be fined but this is about principal. I understand what you mean when you say about being told what to do etc by the government as I too have my issues with the big brother is watching you attitude that is becoming inherant in this country, but this is one issue that I do totally support. I smoked from the age of 13 to 26. I'm not a non smoking preacher, never have been but I reserve the right to have as healthy a life as possible while I'm here and not being a passive smoker will help me and my children hopefully to achieve this. European court of appeal I can hear you calling....

I hope this is taken in the spirit it's written and not as an attack on you hun as it is just something I feel very strongly inside about for many reasons.
:rose:
:kiss: Course I don't take it as an attack on me lovely and I totally understand and respect your feelings and opinion :D That's the good thing about here, we can have healthy debate and express our individual opinions :D
To be honest my post was written following a day spent with 10 boisterous teenage kids at a bowling alley and I would have killed for a cigarette lol. My feelings as I was posting were probably a little heightened rolleyes

:kiss:
Varca I think between us we may well teach a few people on here about how healthy debate is supposed to be :rose: and WHAT WERE YOU THINKING????10 TEENAGE KIDS :shock: ffs woman could you think of nothing better to do on a Saturday???? after all, there were shops open out there. With shoes in!!!!!

8 Jul 2007

they make a lot of money from cigs
so some how they will re_cover the lost tax.....
now they will pick on the drinkers.......
a pint of beer cost more than a pint of petrol
yet its harder to make petrol..........
n how many workers r put off from making cigs?
watch it tax hikes are on the way...........
2s
sheddy yr 4x4 must be due to cost more...............
oops did i say that

8 Jul 2007

Quote by twos_company
sheddy yr 4x4 must be due to cost more...............
oops did i say that

Nope sorry to disappoint but the 4x4 went back in January I now drive a nice economical family car biggrin

8 Jul 2007

Quote by twos_company
they make a lot of money from cigs
so some how they will re_cover the lost tax.....
now they will pick on the drinkers.......
a pint of beer cost more than a pint of petrol
yet its harder to make petrol..........
n how many workers r put off from making cigs?
watch it tax hikes are on the way...........
2s
sheddy yr 4x4 must be due to cost more...............
oops did i say that

Take it out on the drinkers? Really? Having extended opening times, booze freely advertised on TV and in magazines, lenient punishments for drink-drivers etc ... oh, I dunno .... this whole thing annoys me.
I wanna see when they're gonna stop fat people shopping at Greggs as well. Surely all the boozers and the obese are a strain on what is essentially my NHS too. What if I need urgent medical assistance but I die in the queue 'cos of some fat bloke having a heart attack or A&E being too busy dealing with the victims of a drink-driver?
Passive smoking kills? Life kills!

8 Jul 2007

Quote by Marya_Northeast
I wanna see when they're gonna stop fat people shopping at Greggs as well. Surely all the boozers and the obese are a strain on what is essentially my NHS too. What if I need urgent medical assistance but I die in the queue 'cos of some fat bloke having a heart attack or A&E being too busy dealing with the victims of a drink-driver?
Passive smoking kills? Life kills!

:shock: I'm a fat person and a smoker!!!!! You picking on me Marya? :sparring: duel

I will bump you out of the queue with my stomach rotflmao

8 Jul 2007

Aaaah then join me in my cunning plan!
Since we can't smoke, I suggest we eat as much gas-inducing grub as possible and fart in public places.
It's natural, you can't die from it and it'll make me feel better - whaddya say?
Btw - you're not a smoker, darling - you're nicotine-dependant. :smug:

8 Jul 2007

Quote by Marya_Northeast
Aaaah then join me in my cunning plan!
Since we can't smoke, I suggest we eat as much gas-inducing grub as possible and fart in public places.
It's natural, you can't die from it and it'll make me feel better - whaddya say?
Btw - you're not a smoker, darling - you're nicotine-dependant. :smug:

I'm already a champion at that Marya redface

Have won awards :happy: