Job Discussion Forums

[dmb]

Did you know that as of 2006 it will be illegal to smoke in bars in Scotland. What is the world coming to? I thought this sort of thing only happened in America.

[Tuttifruitti]

And Ireland

[Cardinal Synn]

Yeah, it's already illegal in Ireland and bars have been suffering financialy as a result. It's a weird one to argue, because of the passive smoking issue. Some say we should have bars that plainly state - Smoking Bar - and others that state - Non Smoking Bar - and let people decide if they want to go there or not. However, the argument against that is that the workers don't have a choice. If a non smoker works in a smoking bar, they will be breathing others' smoke etc etc. Of course it would be possible for smoking staff to work in smoking bars and visa versa, so I don't really go with that line of reasoning. I was hoping Scotland would go the way of Holland but if you can't smoke in public bars and cafes, that will never happen. Convenient for the politicians.
In Edinburgh (and any other city), passive smoking of car exhausts is surely just as important an issue.

[go_ABs]

New Zealand is soon to decide on a bill regarding this very issue. There seems that it will probably go ahead. It's already illegal to smoke in most other public places.

[Tamzi]

I know the last time I was in Australia they were phasing the law in - and a lot of very popular outdoor bars and dining areas got opened.

[Cardinal Synn]

Problem with Scotland is that it's ccccooold most of the year round so outdoor bars aren't really an option. Some bars have beer gardens but they're only good in the summer. I know we should all stop smoking, but forcing people to do so sucks. However, in the UK, 100,000 people or so die from smoking related illness every year. People complain that the public have to foot the bill for treating smokers in hospital. A packet of cigs costs nearly �5 in the UK, most of which goes to the government, so it could be argued that the smokers are the ones who pay anyway.

[Hector_Lector]

Banning smoking in pubs is ludicrous. If you go to an average pub in Scotland, most of the punters are smokers. Family rooms and the like are not the answer - ban children, they are much more trouble than smokers could ever be.

When I was a loon, smoking and the possession of a dug were two of the main requirements for entering a pub. Sawdust was there to soak up the puke and at 9.45 pm, last orders meant a scrum at the bar for your last two pints and a dram. Then oot on the streets, awa tae the chipper.

Smoking? It�s great, and mair of youse should try it. And if smokers are paying a fiver for a pack, then they should be given a medal. They�re the ones who�re paying through the nose for Blair and his Mickey Mouse government.

[Cardinal Synn]

Hector are you half Aberdonian and half Glasgwegian? We should be told!
Yes, I agree with your ranting - good stuff.

[Hector_Lector]

Glasgae? Fit�s aat? Ah dinna ken much aboot aat.

Aberdeen? Ah wis born there, ken? Bit efter, ma folks moved sooth tae Embra, and efter that ah grew up in the north.

Piss taking aside, years of exile have reduced my speech to a poor pastiche of the Broons and Oor Wullie.

Back to smoking - can you imagine being the poor sod who has to enforce the rules?

What next - beer banned, whisky-lite? Undies to be worn with kilts, just in case?

What a parcel of rogues in a nation...

[Cardinal Synn]

Jings, crivens, help ma' boab!
Me thinks there are fellow speakers of the English who are finding this a little hard to follow.
Whisky-lite? I think that's called burbon.
I do worry about those faceless suites deciding how we live our lives. Where will it end?

[dmb]

[benno]

It is banned in ireland
a few points.......
now everybody can actually smell eachother, and not all the smoke as before, the only problem it that everybody now reeks of beer and sweat (maybe thats an irish thing!), it terrible!

the bars are doing a terrible trade, but thats great news, fcukers overpricing customers for years
its not only the fault of the smoking ban, also to do with high prices, and how cheap it it do buy your alcohol in the supermarkets and off licences, and drink at home

how would you stop people smoking? easy fine the bar/pub
now when some thicko trys to smoke generally everybody tells him to put it out, as the bar will be fined /or shutdown, and hence your local will be closed

i think its a great law, yes i am not a smoker, but the smell of smoke on your clothes from the bar is terrible, imagine what it can do to your lungs
and ireland has the highest degree of lung cancer in europe

but i probably would be pissed off if i was a smoker
maybe there should be some smoker pubs

[XXX]

No, not in America. Well, at least not where the Republicans are in control. Only Democrats pass legislation like that--ie New Jersey, New Yawk and Delaware. I don't smoke, but as long as there is a non smoking section where I am at, I am happy. If you choose to smoke, hey, that's your business and/or problem.

[benno]