Yes we all have a choice, however smokers as a group of people continue to inflict the by-products of their choice on the non-smoking public.
I drive a car and I have the choice to drive on the pavement or at 100 mph outside a school. But sooner or later if I was to exercise that choice I would end up killing someone and or myself. The majority of drivers are quite sensible and don\'t do these silly things. But, there are driving maniacs out there and as a deterrent the state apply laws to prohibit driving on the pavement or at a 100 mph outside a school and apply the full force of the law where necessary. I am not affronted by this impingement on my civil liberties, in fact I am glad that these laws exist as on the whole it makes the general environment on the street/road safer and more pleasant.
Smokers should not look at the no smoking regulations that will come as an infringement of their liberties (smoking as is drinking alcohol is unlikely to ever be banned) but should look at it as an opportunity to show how responsible they are so that they only do it where the impact is on themselves only - that is private enclosed spaces.
I have just started a job for a new customer who are located in a rural part of Leeds. They have nice grounds and gardens on the site, walking through the grounds the other day, I saw a park bench with a no smoking sign next to it - then I smiled and thought to myself - a result on the no smoking in open spaces front.
Ian wrote
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Patronising and innacurate bollocks
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To patronise you more Ian the spelling is inaccurate
But I needed something to wind up the smokers
Mark wrote
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the economics of that tell us that we might not be that big a minority!
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Economics should never be a factor in deciding where people are allowed to smoke. But sadly it probably will.
