Yes, as a non smoker, up here it truly has been 'a breath of fresh air!'. Probably best posting this on VP tho, just to get the numbers...
As it goes everyone's used to it now, but the sight of folks standing outside puffing away like scolded pups is still a bit incredulous, but our local managed to make this clever little smoking area which just fits the criteria for being 'outdoors', and it still looks fairly enclosed. Y'know they've got signs on the bus stops too! If it's a shelter with a roof and two solid sides. Long live! Sorry, bloody hate the things...
x

As someone who has asthma and whose father died of tobacco-stimulated cancer, I have reason to be happy about this. But, banning has taken it too far. I'm not in England, but Japan - and last month, outside one of the biggest universities, a lad was having a smoke outside Disc Union. Soon, a group of yellow-uniformed middle aged "smoke patrollers" emerged and demanded 2000 yen from him.

He paid.

Irked, I asked him why he didn't walk away, and he added that it was his responsibility as the ward has a rule forbidding smoking on the streets.

A few weeks later I had to listen to speeches made by high schoolers on public manners, and a fair few touched on smoking. One of the main points for banning smoking was "young children can be burned by a walking smoker."

That wasn't just in one speech - it was in many. Makes me think that some 'expert' has been on the box using this excuse as one reason to ban it on the street.

But the likelihood of being burnt by a passing smoker is so minimal.

Quite scary that people can have their opinions so moulded.

There isn 't a big problem in the open air, is there?

As someone who loves a fag with their pint I am personally dreading this, but at the same time I expect that those who say this is an abuse of our human rights are the same people who would say not being allowed to drive at 60mph through a residential street is an abuse of their human rights. The Clarkson type.

If less people die it can't be a bad thing but it really is gonna be horrible for me in the pub after tonight.

x

It's already in Wales, the art of conversation has taken a nosedive due to everyone having to go outside the pub for a cigarette leaving the non smoker minding the drinks.

I agree with the ban in certain areas such as restaurants but not pubs, which I think should be the landlord's discretion, it's just going too far!!

It has gone too far

All we need are filtered smoke rooms in pubs

Like there always has been! (ok - not filtered in the past)

The age of the mighty-pub-chain has ripped out all the nooks and smoking rooms!

For fecks sake, what is the *public bar* for if not to have a beer and smoke on the way home from a hard day *doon pit*?

Bleh

I was in Spain a few weeks ago and they have taken the sensible step of having some bars that are totally non-smoking, and some where you can smoke.
I realise this doesn't work for a one-pub village but it seems to keep people happy...

Is fucking insane if someone would ask me, why not move the stuff away from tobacco wich isn´t tobacco and wich are causing the majority of the health problems; paper (cancer!) and the various chemicals, among them; ammonium chloride (which has the effect on blood pressure!)?!?

Edit; by the way i hate passive smoking (at least from the ones with paper and chemicals ;=))

As a non-smoker, having had more sense and individuality than to follow my mates like a sheep, I welcome the smoking ban. Smokers are among the most inconsiderate people I’ve ever met. For years I’ve been going to pubs/clubs/gigs and never once did I smoker ask if I minded that they were potentially causing me discomfort and inflicting passive smoking on me. They complain about getting wet when they have to go outside for a fag. What about increasing your, and others, risk of lung cancer because you choose to smoke? At least getting wet is curable.

Having said that I do see the other side of the arguments from a civil liberties point, and do worry about the nanny state. In work places would it not be possible to have an area inside where smokers could go. With our current levels of technology surely we can install ventilation systems to remove the smoke from the smoking area.

Remember smokers had a choice to start smoking and have the choice to stop. Non-smokers do not if they are in enclosed public places.