[Archived] July 1st

[philipl]

Since they brought the smoking ban in Malta, it has been great. No need to worry if a meal is going to be ruined or avoiding bars for the fug.

It also has hyper sensitised me when there is smoke as it is so damned unpleasant.

Not at all surprised at this finding. I expect that overall, it will be neutral for the pub/restaurant trade.

[Billy Castell]

Maybe a compromise situation could be that if you want a smoking pub, the ventilation needs to be sh_t hot and suck up all the fumes. Air conditioning experts could inspect the equipment every 3 years say and give the pub a certificate.

[DP]

Was in Italy in March and didn´t realise the smoking ban was already in. Freezing cold outside my smoking friends reckoned they smoked less than half of what they normally do when down the pub. Still got their nicotine fix though. It´s certinaly more habit, and less addiction why people light up so often over a beer in the pub. Being able to wear the same top (hoodie not t- shirt CLB) the day after as it doesn´t reek of tobacco is blessing.

Of course bringing the ban in July softens the blow as we all like to drink outside when it´s warm. Sure, come winter you´ll see groups of people hanging around outside pubs smoking, but these numbers will fall as more and more people give up.

Have just left Switzerland where everbody seems to smoke. A nice time to come back to the UK

[herbergeehh]

Trust me, you will love this ban. Smokers, non-smokers, even a vast majority of the smokers thinks this has had a positive effect in Norway. Best. Ban. Ever!

[b12_simon]

Trust me, you will love this ban. Smokers, non-smokers, even a vast majority of the smokers thinks this has had a positive effect in Norway. Best. Ban. Ever!

Yup. Sat in the pub last night, nicking elwaxo's ciggies.

Had the ban been in place I'd not have bothered and wouldn't have today's cough. Roll on July 1st!

[blue phil]

It also has hyper sensitised me when there is smoke as it is so damned unpleasant.

I must admit I've noticed it more in recent months since it came onto the agenda - never used to bother me at all ....

[thenodrog]

I must admit I've noticed it more in recent months since it came onto the agenda - never used to bother me at all ....

Same for me. Odd isn't it?

[Flopsy]

They've stuck no smoking signs in bus shelters and stops in Birmingham now, although they dont actually say where the end of the prohibition zone is.

[Beta Ray Bill]

I was in Winchester at the end of last week on business and the train station is pretty much uncovered on the platforms. It's going smokefree from 1st July.

Whilst thinking this was a good thing, I noticed one of the rail employees puffing away on a fag at the end of the platform and my brain changed track - excuse the pun. In places like this, how is the ban going to be policed? If there's only a few people around and they light up and the only employees are also wanting a fag, and it's more of less open air, who stops them? Who'd know?

I understand that there could be a Smoke Warden or something for certain inspections, but I guess that this would be more for fully enclosed spaces or where people complain. Also do the Smoke Wardens have right of entry to private clubs to inspect or do they have to get some form of warrant?

Could be fun in ensuring places are within the law if they are less visible that a town centre Wetherspoons.

[Sydney Rovers]

the ban has been in wales now for a few months.

its working well, it is an eye sore though seing big groups of people smoking away outside the pubs on the streets etc.

i think as its the summer its alright if the establishment has a nice beer garden etc.

when the winter comes and the weather changes then there is going to be complaints.

the only problem so far is people who dont smoke go outside with the smokers to socialise meaning that the pub is almost empty, easy to get served though.

See here in Sydney, pubs and clubs have been building undercover smoking areas as part of the new rules coming in on the 2nd where all pubs/clubs are smoke free. They are of course doing this as they're making bucket loads of money ($800 Million AUD) < Linky > stuffing them with poker machine (fruit machines) and are spending the money on these renovations.

At least in the UK you're not hearing idiots saying that the rate of domestic violence will increase because people won't go out and drink and will stay home and get drunk

Hopefully we won't see what I saw in Vancouver where they had a smoking booth that looked like the Cone of Silence from the TV show "Get Smart"

[ewoodblue]

You will now be fined for dropping butt ends in the street.A guy in Greater Manchester was pulled up by a council warden(blair police),and fined 50 quid after being told he'd thrown a match stick out of car window.

Where will this madness stop,when are they going to start catching criminals.

Have you ever heard such bull.The resons the prisons are over crowded and we need to release criminals back onto the street is proof of how well the governments doing on cracking down on crime.Over full prisons= sucess.Who are they trying to kid.

Who's going to foot the bill for all the tax lost with no body buying fags anymore.The tax man will need to find that money elsewhere.Eveybody agrees and says ok to this no smoking mularky, but who will b next in the fine crazy country.Drivers beware,this fine business is good money and they know now just what a pliant lot we are.

[den]

You will now be fined for dropping butt ends in the street.

about time, too. Just look around any road/street/park bench. leaving butt ends everywhere is disgusting.

[dave birch]

Ewood, what has a council emplyee got to do with the PM (or rather the ex)?

I can tell you, here, if you chuck a fag/match/litter out of a car window and you get caught, you'll be fined a lot more than 50 quid!

[ewoodblue]

about time, too. Just look around any road/street/park bench. It's disgusting leaving butt ends everywhere.

Put stricter measures on cars, and keep up the campaign to make people use public transport.

Why should I breathe in dirty carr exhaust fumes,passive smokers may be wrong, but the amount of traffic on the roads amongst other things is killing the planet, and it's a serious issue that needs addressing./

Exhaust fumes kill.I don't drive, so why shouldd my health be affected,.

[den]

Put stricter measures on cars, and keep up the campaign to make people use public transport.

Why should I breathe in dirty carr exhaust fumes,passive smokers may be wrong, but the amount of traffic on the roads amongst other things is killing the planet, and it's a serious issue that needs addressing./

Exhaust fumes kill.I don't drive, so why shouldd my health be affected,.

We're talking about litter, aren't we? Yes - No?

[ewoodblue]

Ewood, what has a council emplyee got to do with the PM (or rather the ex)?

I can tell you, here, if you chuck a fag/match/litter out of a car window and you get caught, you'll be fined a lot more than 50 quid!

Well don't you think it's just a little petty, I mean a matchstick for crying out loud.

Have you seen the amount opf rubbish strewn all over the streets after the bin men and recycling vans have been and gone.

Pop bottles, paper,tin cans,you name it.Streets , hedge rows, canals,it's a disgrace.Anything that falls out when emptying the bins just gets left.

I find this a lot more serious than running around catching peopl;e forr throwing a match stick.

The council should practice what it preachses

[thenodrog]

Well don't you think it's just a little petty, I mean a matchstick for crying out loud.

Have you seen the amount opf rubbish strewn all over the streets after the bin men and recycling vans have been and gone.

Pop bottles, paper,tin cans,you name it.Streets , hedge rows, canals,it's a disgrace.Anything that falls out when emptying the bins just gets left.

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step"....... (Confusious)

[thenodrog]

Put stricter measures on cars, and keep up the campaign to make people use public transport.

Why should I breathe in dirty carr exhaust fumes,passive smokers may be wrong, but the amount of traffic on the roads amongst other things is killing the planet, and it's a serious issue that needs addressing./

Exhaust fumes kill.I don't drive, so why shouldd my health be affected,.

Hence my earlier suggestion to give council tax paying families free bus passes. A car chucks out lots of unhealthy emissions when driving about, but not as much as an empty bus.

[ewoodblue]

Hence my earlier suggestion to give council tax paying families free bus passes. A car chucks out lots of unhealthy emissions when driving about, but not as much as an empty bus.

I agree,I mean fair do's, cars are important to some extent,but with the amount of traffic on the road it should be moderated some.

I would love to see them put a tram system in the town like the one in Manchester,it can even open up the Ewood Park line again lol

As for smoking, I'm all for it,even though I'm a smoker.Once again I've been in town 3 hours today,and just been out tonight and knowing I couldn't smoke I just turn off and accept it.So more places that do it, the better it will be,.

Only thing I'm against is some want to lay down the law to the point of rubbing peoples noses in it.People have been smoking for generations from all walks of life,and these people ain't smelly worthless individuals,and like somebody says,at end of day most smokers will abide by the law, because of cause they care about harming other peoples health..i care anyhow,and the word is to be considerate to others.That's fauir enough, but I won't have my character attacked for something as been the norm for generations of families who didn't know the dangers of passive smoking.

By doing this it sets a good example to the youngsters that it's wrong to smoke.That can only be good news.

July 1st , bring it on.

[blue phil]

I can tell you, here, if you chuck a fag/match/litter out of a car window and you get caught, you'll be fined a lot more than 50 quid!

You'll get fined here too .

But only if you look the quiet , respectable type who'll pay up immediately .

The yobs who cause the most trouble won't be approached either by the council jobsworths or the police .

[ewoodblue]

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step"....... (Confusious)

Confucious is my middle name lol

[jim mk2]

You will now be fined for dropping butt ends in the street.A guy in Greater Manchester was pulled up by a council warden(blair police),and fined 50 quid after being told he'd thrown a match stick out of car window.

Where will this madness stop,

It isn't madness. Modern Britain has much to commend it but littering is a disgrace in many towns and cities.

Read Bill Bryson's view. Gordon Brown should appoint him Minister for Litter forthwith.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_...icle1989168.ece

[ewoodblue]

It isn't madness. Modern Britain has much to commend it but littering is a disgrace in many towns and cities.

Read Bill Bryson's view. Gordon Brown should appoint him Minister for Litter forthwith.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_...icle1989168.ece

Great article ,and I agree entirely.When I say madness, I mean all the serious issuies concerning the real litter louts, the fly tippers,etc.Black bin bags dumped everywhere with "this is being investigated",it's like a scene from C.S.I.Why can't they take it away and investigate instead of leaving it there as rat fodder.

All places of natural beauty look like eyesaws now.Who wants to sit on Eanom Wharf and watch the debris float by,or sit in filelds with trees and bush's with paper bags hanging from the branch's.

I'm all for recyling and making Britain a greener ,cleaner place,but get to the real issues and get the real offenders,instead of being petty and trying to make an example of one bloke who dropped a matchstick.

I've been to Tesco tonight, and dropped a load of plastic bags in their recyling container,because I don't want to see streams and oceans destroyed .We haven't one Blue flag beach in the Northwest.

Like I say , nice article, but I wasn't defending litter louts.

[Beta Ray Bill]

Very good article. Made me think about throwing apple cores into fields!

Two things really sum up the mess (pardon the pun) in just one paragraph -

Amsterdam’s environmental enforcement officers issue around 7,000 penalties a year; in all of England there are about 500 convictions annually, and each time there is an outcry in the Daily Mail– most recently about a woman in Sussex who was charged £80 when her toddler grandson dropped two Quavers.

One city issues 7000 penalties and the entirety ofEngland has just 500 convictions - shows who is taking it seriously.

Two quavers on the floor leads to an £80 fine - shows how easy it is to trivialise the issue from both a legal pov and the way the media reports it.

[blue phil]

You will now be fined for dropping butt ends in the street.A guy in Greater Manchester was pulled up by a council warden(blair police),and fined 50 quid after being told he'd thrown a match stick out of car window.

Where will this madness stop,when are they going to start catching criminals.

ANOTHER EASY TARGET

Hopefully one day I'll read about the yobs outside McDonald's being pulled up for littering....