What is your view on smoking?..

[Catzsy]

The fact is the overwhelming majority of non-smokers do find passive smoking unpleasant, especially in enclosed spaces. As a smoker myself I find it fairly gross too. I've got no problem with the smoking ban and I think it actually creates a much nicer atmosphere. I can remember my dad lighting up half way through a pizza express and it was possibly the most disgusting and pitiful thing I can remember. There is no need whatsoever for people to smoke in cafes or restaurants and I don't think it has effected pubs and bars that much, and has actually led to much nicer outside areas.

I agree with you. It is much more continental these days and council don't seem to be so heavy handed with tables outside. As an asthma sufferer I prefer it but I would not want to see it banned completely as it is a way of life for some especially older people who smoked when it was considered 'cool' and if it was where would it end. I do think that people who smoke should be respectful of their children and babies as it can be damaging to their health. Outside in the fresh air is probably the best.

[Hopeless]

I have no problem with people who smoke and if a few of my mates are smoking I'll happily go into the beer garden or 'cage' that clubs/pubs have. People should be able to do what they want. I think the smoking ban is a dodgy one, I just about agree with it on the basis that a lot of pubs serve food and I don't think the two should mix. At the end of the day, smoking has taken lives so anything to discourage people is a positive. I don't want to hear pointless rhetoric about fatty foods because there are also campaigns to discourage that too.

[geo]

I don't mind people smoking as I respect that it's their choice and they can smoke if they wish. However, I don't think (well, I hope) that I'll ever trying as I just don't see the need. So many people say ''I'll just try it, I won't get addicted'' but I've seen some of my friends say that and it seems like they struggle to go to school without wanting to smoke. I don't want to be like that, so I just won't even bother trying. The only times I don't like it is when people smoke in front of infants or affect those around them.

[Slowpoke]

I don't think it has effected pubs and bars that much

It certainly has Rozi. But it's not just because of the smoking ban that pubs are now struggling, it's also due to the fact they are being forced to raise the price of alcohol to ridiculous levels thanks to government constantly hiking up the price. They just cannot compete with supermarkets. Look at it this way, as an example; why would John and his friends want to go to the pub for a night out and everytime they want a cigarette, they are forced to go and stand outside in the cold. Bear in mind that John smokes much more when he's drinking, so it's terribly inconvenient for him to have to get up and go outside every fifteen minutes. John and his friends could quite easily go and have a night in at John's house, buying three crates of beer for £20 from Tesco (much, much cheaper than in the pubs) and be able to smoke without having to go outside all the time.

Granted, it isn't just because of the smoking ban that pubs are struggling. But if you do a bit of research, you'll see the amount of people that visit pubs has declined at an alarming rate since the smoking ban.

I heard the government are re-thinking smoking bans in the pubs. I think it'd make sense to let pubs have a room which is designated for smoking, or maybe allow smoking after 7pm when the kids are asked to leave, for example?

Something needs to be done though else it'll be goodbye to the great British pub for good!

[Caution]

I don't have a problem with it and I think people ridiculously over-exaggerate their feelings about it. It's a person's own choice to smoke, they know the risks and the effects it has on them. I can't stand it when people seem so disgusted at the thought of someone smoking two or three at the weekend while drinking. People genuinely seem to be under the impression that if you smoke a cigarette, you're immediately unhealthy. I've smoked at a party before, I can't say I'll never do it again, but I certainly wouldn't make a habit of it as I like being healthy and it's too expensive to smoke regularly.

[Jurv]

I've never tried smoking before and that's basically because I don't want to try it yet, if I was ever going to smoke it will be when I'm a lot older. There is quite a large group of people in my year who smoke and it doesn't bother me unless they do it during school time. I don't really care what they do with their body outside of school whether it be drinking large amounts of alcohol or taking drugs but I hate it when they do it whilst at school, there's a time and place to smoke and it's not whilst you're studying.

I don't hate smokers but I find it disgusting when I see people smoking at very young ages or near young children.

[Stephen]

I hate the smell of pubs now tbh. I always thought the smell of cigarettes gave the pubs that pubby smell

[-:Undertaker:-]

The fact is the overwhelming majority of non-smokers do find passive smoking unpleasant, especially in enclosed spaces. As a smoker myself I find it fairly gross too. I've got no problem with the smoking ban and I think it actually creates a much nicer atmosphere. I can remember my dad lighting up half way through a pizza express and it was possibly the most disgusting and pitiful thing I can remember. There is no need whatsoever for people to smoke in cafes or restaurants and I don't think it has effected pubs and bars that much, and has actually led to much nicer outside areas.

29 pubs are now closing every week in this country.

I've got no problem with the smoking ban and I think it actually creates a much nicer atmosphere.

However, do you accept that it should be up to the pub owner to decide whether or not smoking is allowed in his property?

[Abbie.]

people always stick cigs in my mouth when im drunk and in a smoking area :\ i cant actually smoke though, i can feel it burn my throat and its disgusting.

[Matthew]

Smokers don't bother me, as long as their smoke is not affecting anyone else. I think that people who smoke when in crowds (such as before a football match perhaps) are inconsiderate, as their smoke isn't just gonna shorten their life, but the life of those around them as well.

If you want to kill yourself by smoking, go ahead, but just don't bring others down with you.