I'm a non-smoker, and when I'm in the car with my mum and dad they're always asking me if it's alright to smoke, and I'm like "Yeah. It's your car do what you want. But could I have the window down at least please?". Then they have no problem whatsoever. I don't think it's right to ban them from smoking in their own space though. Especially if whoever they're travelling with don't mind it.

 

We have a kid on the way in June and my parents have said they don't mind stopping from smoking when they have the kid there.

 

I do agree with banning smoking whilst driving though. But whether they do it in the car casually and stopped, then I don't see the problem. If they're so pissed about people smoking so much. STOP MAKING THE FUCKING THINGS! Then no one will have a choice but to stop smoking will they? But they're too bothered about money as cigarettes and alcohol are where most of their tax comes from or something isn't it? :unsure:

that and Petrol

I'm a non-smoker, and when I'm in the car with my mum and dad they're always asking me if it's alright to smoke, and I'm like "Yeah. It's your car do what you want. But could I have the window down at least please?". Then they have no problem whatsoever. I don't think it's right to ban them from smoking in their own space though. Especially if whoever they're travelling with don't mind it.

 

We have a kid on the way in June and my parents have said they don't mind stopping from smoking when they have the kid there.

 

I do agree with banning smoking whilst driving though. But whether they do it in the car casually and stopped, then I don't see the problem. If they're so pissed about people smoking so much. STOP MAKING THE FUCKING THINGS! Then no one will have a choice but to stop smoking will they? But they're too bothered about money as cigarettes and alcohol are where most of their tax comes from or something isn't it? :unsure:

The government doesn't make cigarettes, private companies do :P The government gets £42bn from overall excise duties (including petrol etc.), so I can't imagine they get that much out of alcohol and cigarettes in tax - barely any compared to VAT, national insurance and income tax anyway.

If you can't eat or drink whilst driving you shouldn't be able to smoke - it takes up way more concentration than just drinking water :P

as we're seemingly hung-up on the apparent 'distraction' element of smoking whilst driving... perhaps we should consider banning from cars THE biggest distraction of all..... CHILDREN!

 

You tell me what's more of a safetly hazard.... flicking ash and putting out a ciggie just to your left whilst driving (stationary almost always, too).... or trying to control a squealing brat in the back seat, crying, kicking, screaming and the like.

 

There IS no bigger annoyance and distraction than having a child in the car..... so let's become a proper Nazi state and ban them if we're banning smoking, please.

 

as we're seemingly hung-up on the apparent 'distraction' element of smoking whilst driving... perhaps we should consider banning from cars THE biggest distraction of all..... CHILDREN!

 

You tell me what's more of a safetly hazard.... flicking ash and putting out a ciggie just to your left whilst driving (stationary almost always, too).... or trying to control a squealing brat in the back seat, crying, kicking, screaming and the like.

 

There IS no bigger annoyance and distraction than having a child in the car..... so let's become a proper Nazi state and ban them if we're banning smoking, please.

 

Hell lets go further and ban kids altogether. Hang on a minute, then mankind will end. Not all kids are unruly, poor parenting is to blame for unruly kids. Russ you were a kid once, just like the rest of us, get over it. This is about smoking in cars affecting kids health. They don't have a choice if their parents smoke, unlike the parents.

This.

 

There's no way you can be in FULL control of your vehicle if you're puffing away, and tapping off the ash :puke:

 

I'd love to see sat navs banned too, but that will never happen. The amount of people who blindly follow them when they're a bit slow to update on roundabouts and nearly wipe people out is stupid! Road signs are their for a fricking reason!

 

now i agree with this, banning smoking whilst driving for reasons stated....yes

 

and sat navs? wtf? created for WOMEN who are unable to read maps :P and road signes... i mean, its bloody simple!

If you can't use your mobile while driving, drink or eat why the f*** can you still smoke?

 

Well I never knew that... I drink water all the time while I drive esp when I'm driving back from the north.

 

It should be banned really cos it is only like using a mobile phone, but they do not seem to care about people on their phones around business areas. I see so many people using their phone so I just give them a gesture!

Not all kids are unruly, poor parenting is to blame for unruly kids. This is about smoking in cars affecting kids health. They don't have a choice if their parents smoke, unlike the parents.

 

Long car journeys and kids? I don't think you need to be a poor parent to end up with a raging, screaming child who is distracting you from driving on a long journey, do you? The parents I've witnessed ALWAYS have one eye on the road and the other darting back behind them to check on the kids..... hardly a recipe for a safe journey.

 

And whilst this ban is 'allegedly' about parents smoking in cars and passive smoking.... umm... I don't have or ever ever want children..... I have never and would never have a child in the car whilst driving... so I'm exempt, yes? I do what I want in MY car - simple. And until someone somewhere starts contributing to the cost of running MY car - then that's the way it will stay.

 

And the topic had veered onto smoking apparently being a distraction whilst driving, which is why I brought up the glaringly obvious - that kids are 100% more 'distracting' in a car than having a fag.

Long car journeys and kids? I don't think you need to be a poor parent to end up with a raging, screaming child who is distracting you from driving on a long journey, do you? The parents I've witnessed ALWAYS have one eye on the road and the other darting back behind them to check on the kids..... hardly a recipe for a safe journey.

 

And whilst this ban is 'allegedly' about parents smoking in cars and passive smoking.... umm... I don't have or ever ever want children..... I have never and would never have a child in the car whilst driving... so I'm exempt, yes? I do what I want in MY car - simple. And until someone somewhere starts contributing to the cost of running MY car - then that's the way it will stay.

 

And the topic had veered onto smoking apparently being a distraction whilst driving, which is why I brought up the glaringly obvious - that kids are 100% more 'distracting' in a car than having a fag.

 

I completely agree with you. If the car is being used for private purposes then you should be able to do whatever you legally want in it. If they are going to ban smoking in cars they might as well ban smoking ... period. But they won't because of all the Government revenue it raises.

Well I never knew that... I drink water all the time while I drive esp when I'm driving back from the north.

 

It should be banned really cos it is only like using a mobile phone, but they do not seem to care about people on their phones around business areas. I see so many people using their phone so I just give them a gesture!

So i have been informed. I do it all the time too :heehee:

f*** THAT.

 

It should be common sense to not smoke when there are children in the car. I never smoke when I'm with my godson or if anyone asks me politely not to smoke around them. Besides that I will smoke in MY car whenever the f*** I want too.

 

End of discussion.

Long car journeys and kids? I don't think you need to be a poor parent to end up with a raging, screaming child who is distracting you from driving on a long journey, do you? The parents I've witnessed ALWAYS have one eye on the road and the other darting back behind them to check on the kids..... hardly a recipe for a safe journey.

 

And whilst this ban is 'allegedly' about parents smoking in cars and passive smoking.... umm... I don't have or ever ever want children..... I have never and would never have a child in the car whilst driving... so I'm exempt, yes? I do what I want in MY car - simple. And until someone somewhere starts contributing to the cost of running MY car - then that's the way it will stay.

 

And the topic had veered onto smoking apparently being a distraction whilst driving, which is why I brought up the glaringly obvious - that kids are 100% more 'distracting' in a car than having a fag.

 

That's a very good, pertinent point Russ, and one which the Pro-smoking banners in the Govt dont seem to want to address...

 

And you're quite correct about the distraction factor of children in a car upon parents... I cant see how it's any less distracting than having a conversation on a Mobile phone.. If you're having to discipline your kids whilst driving, you are NOT 100% focussed on driving, ergo, it is a distraction... Just like a mobile phone, or changing the CD in the player..... This is not some kind of "anti-child" argument, it's merely using the logic of the "Pro-Banners" against them....

There's no way you can be in FULL control of your vehicle if you're puffing away, and tapping off the ash :puke:

 

I'd love to see sat navs banned too, but that will never happen. The amount of people who blindly follow them when they're a bit slow to update on roundabouts and nearly wipe people out is stupid! Road signs are their for a fricking reason!

 

Yeah okay, and, er what about PASSENGERS then....? They wouldn't be actually driving and the ban would affect them as much as it would the driver surely... So your argument is pretty null and void frankly....

Why dont they just take out CAR RADIO'S next. You know the music could be VERY distracting.

 

I've dealt with the smoking ban in pubs as much as it frustrates me. But as Russ said house partys are the new in thing and it IS because of the smoking ban. I don't drive at the minute but learning and this supposed ban is just utter bollocks. Anti smokers just need to get the f*** over it. Its our choice, our lungs and I'm pretty sure 90% of all smokers are considerate to those that arent. I know I am so...

Edited March 30, 201015 yr by Ryan

BRILLIANT idea.... almost as good as mine of only people who have kids should pay any money whatsoever in taxes toward education, anyone who drinks more than a few units a week paying 100% of their medical bills, only people living on main roads should pay anything towards keeping roads snow and pot-hole free, and only people who work for a living receiving ANY healthcare at all.

 

See? Pretty ridiculous idea.... 'widely thought'? Really? By whom? The same anti-smoking lobbyists who shouted very loudly for a smoking ban in pubs I presume.... who then became known not as the group who stopped smoking in pubs - but as the group who signed the licensing trade's death warrant - because these fervent non smokers sure as hell aint spending their money in pubs these days - as shown by the unprecedented plummet in the numbers of people going to pubs these days. And before we roll out the 'ah, but booze is cheap in supermarkets now, people drink at home"... booze has ALWAYS been cheap in supermarkets.... the cold hard fact is that smokers, and smoker's friends, fored the majority number in most pubs - and these days they're choosing not to stop smoking in public or altogether - they're choosing to stay at home - houseparties are the new pubs thanks to the smoking ban.

 

Whether you like it or not, smokers help keep the economy alive, and we pay tenfold for the services we use from the NHS. If everyone in the land stopped smoking - don't you realise the Chancellorwill be clawing the billions lost from YOU? Any way he can?

 

Ban smoking in cars? Go ahead... just don't expect any smokers, including myself, taking a blind bit of notice. As if - my car is MY domain :lol: :lol:

 

I agree with this in parts, it's your choice to smoke in your home and your car - it's your property. But, it was the best move to ban from bars and pubs where non smokers had no other option but to breathe in other peoples smoke and also stink like an ashtry after a night out. My only complaint was that it didn't come soon enough! Bars and pubs are public spaces, but your home and car is a private space and you reserve the right to smoke there. The Nanny State is getting very teadious however and I'm not some anti-smoking do-gooder. I don't agree that smokers should be denied treatment as a result of their smoking, though perhaps if they continue to smoke (Just like an alcoholic would be refused a liver transplant is they continued to drink). But what bugs me is the arrogance of some smokers who think they should smoke anywhere they like.

 

But I'd go easy on saying tobacco consumption is keeping the economy alive... The money you would ordinarily spend on cigs would be spent on some other more worthwhile and substantial product.

Edited April 2, 201015 yr by ScottyEm

But ScottyEm.... surely a smoke-filled club or bar is preferable to a shut-down one? I'm all for freedom of choice - the choice, of course, should have been the venue owner's choice.

 

The problem with this would be that, knowing what a massive turn-off non-smoking venues have always been for the majority (one of the very first in the mid-90s was in Newport, South Wales... it opened in a hail of publicity.... was always empty.... toilets full of cigarette burns from people having a crafty ciggie... and it shut down 6 months later), ALL venues would stay the same - smoking venues.

 

The choice should be either a smoking venue or a non-smoking one. But historically, and presently, non-smoking venues just don't pull in the punters. Even many non-smokers, after a few drinks, have a cigarette....

 

It's no coincidence that venues are closing down at an alarming rate - they try to whitewash the truth by saying booze is cheap in supermarkets so that's why the licensing trade's in freefall... but booze has always been cheap in supermarkets.

 

The simple truth is.... people have stopped going out since this ban.... I know I have...and so have many of the old faithful I socialised with for the very same reason.

 

Dublin was a fine example.... smoking ban in there before the UK... I went there, all over thecity.... each and every single one of the pubs and clubs.... dead. The fun was outside... usually at the back of the venues by the bins.... full of smokers...and their mates. Dancefloors - empty. Bar - easy to get served.

But ScottyEm.... surely a smoke-filled club or bar is preferable to a shut-down one? I'm all for freedom of choice - the choice, of course, should have been the venue owner's choice.

 

The problem with this would be that, knowing what a massive turn-off non-smoking venues have always been for the majority (one of the very first in the mid-90s was in Newport, South Wales... it opened in a hail of publicity.... was always empty.... toilets full of cigarette burns from people having a crafty ciggie... and it shut down 6 months later), ALL venues would stay the same - smoking venues.

 

The choice should be either a smoking venue or a non-smoking one. Then the choice of where you socialised would be yours. But historically, and presently, non-smoking venues just don't pull in the punters. Even many non-smokers, after a few drinks, have a cigarette.... and what about the thousands of venues, workingmen's clubs in particular, where the majority of people smoked? Have you seen how many of these places are left? Not many after the ban...and the ones remaining are on their last legs.

 

It's no coincidence that venues are closing down at an alarming rate - they try to whitewash the truth by saying booze is cheap in supermarkets so that's why the licensing trade's in freefall... but booze has always been cheap in supermarkets. But people still went out to socialise. By taking away people's choice to smoke... all they've done is driven people away from pubs and clubs and back to dinner parties and house parties.

 

The simple truth is.... people have stopped going out since this ban.... I know I have...and so have many of the old faithful I socialised with for the very same reason.

 

Dublin was a fine example.... smoking ban in there before the UK... I went there, all over the city.... each and every single one of the pubs and clubs.... dead. The fun was outside... usually at the back of the venues by the bins.... full of smokers...and their mates. Dancefloors - empty. Bar - easy to get served.

 

The simple fact of the matter is.... however nauseating you find smoking... smokers will not, ever, be bullied and told what to do - who will? A complete ban is an extreme act of sneering bullishness pushed through by the smug non-smokers - who, in a social environment, are very often the minority.

The simple truth is.... people have stopped going out since this ban.... I know I have...and so have many of the old faithful I socialised with for the very same reason.

 

I don't really buy too much into this theory that social night-life has declined at a rapid rate as a direct result of the smoking ban. I've not noticed any difference. I went to Sankeys in Manchester only recently (recently voted the worlds best nightclub... had to be in Manchester of course, but anyway I digress) where they have a large open, almost garden-like feature to the club where you could go and chill i.e. go for a smoke. So much better than containing smoke in the club. Even smoking and non smoking sections in bars and pubs was no good because (from my experience) a circle of mates with a majority of non smokers would always find themselves in the smoking section because of the minority that smoked.

 

I think the only venues that have witnessed a major loss are those mankey old pubs and perhaps labour clubs. But these sort of places are usually resistant to change anyway, and the generations to come wouldn't usually touch these places with a barge poll.

Edited April 2, 201015 yr by ScottyEm

Was the pub industry not in decline before the smoking ban though? I don't think it's a recent development.

 

And I echo Scotty; certainly in my town I've not noticed any difference to the clubs and bars on a weekend night. A lot of places now have arrangements for smokers to go outside and smoke in relative comfort.