Smoking ban

[lnr]

Lots of people are talking about the UK plan to totally ban smoking in enclosed public places which was voted through yesterday evening. Most of my friends list who have commented seem keen, though some have reservations. I'm curious as to what those who've not said anything yet feel. Do propogate this as widely as you like. Personally I think it's a good move, though I would have been as happy with the amendment which allowed smoking in private clubs. I do think a total ban in pubs is an excellent step. And no, I don't smoke, though I have in the past been in the "Well... a bit " category. - oh yeah and just to add I am still occasionally tempted if I'm out with one of the few friends who smoke. [Poll #673518]

Comments

[simont]

I have to confess to being terribly selfish on this issue. Normally I like to take a balanced view of almost everything; in a case like this I should be thinking about the passive-smoking harm to customers, their choice to be there or not, the passive-smoking harm to employees, their choice to be there or not, the general ethics of the State dictating what we should or shouldn't do and the question of whether any given harm is bad enough to make it worth having a law, the question of enforceability, and probably nine or ten other factors which have momentarily slipped my mind. I generally find it easy to see both sides of an argument, and often find it rather more difficult to make up my mind into a clear opinion one way or the other.

But in this particular case, I find my lungs outvoting my brain two to one. I'm very fond of breathing, and in spite of all the potential objections to a ban I simply cannot find it in me to disapprove of a measure which will allow me to do so more conveniently in a wider range of places.