smokers

[foxbar]

IS IT NOT ABOUT TIME SOMETHING WAS DONE TO STOP THE SMOKERS STANDING OUTSIDE PUPS THROWING FAG ENDS OVER THE PAVEMENT

[John S]

pups!

[Surfbored]

Whether you are a smoker or not, you would have to agree that smokers are treated like 21st century lepers.

It's all very well saying it's a disgusting habit.

If it's so bad just BAN IT OUTRIGHT !!!

Until recently it's been perfectly acceptable to manufacture , promote & sell this highly addictive & dangerous drug. Because there are increasing tax revenues lost to bootleggers, an aging population that is putting increased strain on an already underfunded health service and a notion that in this day and age it may not be such a vote loser, it's suddenly okay to persecute addicts and hit them with £50 on the spot fines for littering.

I say again, if it is so unacceptable, BAN IT, and do it now but don't be unfairly picking on the addicted, who wouldn't have been addicted if the Government had played fair and done the honourable and correct thing decades ago.

[general jack o'niell]

deleted due to apathy on my part

[Surfbored]

Presumably from taxing ALL littering

There was a lovely pic on here ages ago of chewing gum all over Main St, which I believe you'd prolly get away wth in the fiscal sense, you just have to live with your conscience.

Dog crap only gets a £30 fine.

Presumably the logic is that SEPA won't touch discarded cigarettes unless they are seperated into the 2,500 or so constituent chemicals.

[peenkles21]

as a smoker i say ban it today, put income tax up by 5p in the pound tomorrow, either that or 10p on a gall. of petrol, money will need to come from somewhere?

What about the money that smokers cost the NHS?? Between all the treatment for the various cancers attributed to smoking etc.

It'l probably balance itself out.

I hardly think though that when you buy a packet of your favourite brand of cancer sticks, that you think that you're doing the government a favour by giving them more money!

[Hadrians hiring!]

as a smoker i say ban it today, put income tax up by 5p in the pound tomorrow, either that or 10p on a gall. of petrol, money will need to come from somewhere?

What about the money that smokers cost the NHS?? Between all the treatment for the various cancers attributed to smoking etc.

+ what exactly does that prove Peenkles????????


How much money do smokers save the NHS by a large proportion popping it early?

As the countries population gets more aged all the time we are looking at bankrupting everbody to pay for the oldsters (when they have had 50/60 years to save for their retirment) as they live into their 90's and beyond. Fair play to them if they can live that long, but you cant lay the demise of the NHS at the smokers door.

If at a wonder stroke you could eradicate cancer overnight would it lead to a better world????????? Maybe, for 10/20 years till the next generation comes up against what ever has become ''the big killer'' by default (presumably heart disease which the news channels would decry as pandemic as death rates would sky-rocket if there was no cancer - yet we would not have been more unhealthy to our haerts).

Everbody has got to die of something and if we all lived to 160 years we all probably would have contracted the big C.


Interesting to note that in Breast Cancer Awareness week that the guy behind the early screening programme has raised doubts on its validity.

His point was that it was only a tiny percentage that were saved and that the ''Wisdom of Soloman'' was needed as thousands underwent mascectomies and chemo without a good cause.
This was that they showed tumours/growths that would not had any impact on their lives (and somebody probably knows the percentage of people that die with not because of cancer - there is a difference)and because of screening this early they were rushed through the process.

Not an easy subject the NHS.

[peenkles21]

How much money do smokers save the NHS by a large proportion popping it early?

I dont realy think that that is the best way to look at it.

If at a wonder stroke you could eradicate cancer overnight would it lead to a better world?????????

Im sure everyone knows someone who has been afected/died from cancer and if you offered them a cure im sure that would make the world a better place for them.

Maybe, for 10/20 years till the next generation comes up against what ever has become ''the big killer''

So, going by that logic we shouldn't bother preventing disease because its only going to get replaced by something else? Makes you wonder why they spent all that time and energy getting rid of smallpox

Not an easy subject the NHS.

Your damn right there and I can tell your post and this post wont do anything to fix it.

[EMDEE]

Smokers are becoming increasingly marginalised, and for those of us who still do it, of whom I am one, it is becoming more and more difficult to defend. It is actually an indefensible activity, and there is really no point in anyone trying to defend it.

Whilst I can take on board the reasoning behind the new smoking ban, I find the situation of smokers standing outside pubs, some well under the influence and intimidating passers-by, to be a surreal scenario.

If you want to smoke you can do it outside, but if you want to destroy your liver you are welcome to come in.

[Sweltered]

Smokers are becoming increasingly marginalised, and for those of us who still do it, of whom I am one, it is becoming more and more difficult to defend. It is actually an indefensible activity, and there is really no point in anyone trying to defend it.

Whilst I can take on board the reasoning behind the new smoking ban, I find the situation of smokers standing outside pubs, some well under the influence and intimidating passers-by, to be a surreal scenario.

If you want to smoke you can do it outside, but if you want to destroy your liver you are welcome to come in.

PRoviding they don't drive, drinkers are only harming themselves, the jury is still out on passive smoking tho.

Why not ban both, the binge drinking culture is as pathetic, and smoking is mingin. How people can afford to smoke is beyond me. I know it's an addiction, but it's easy to stop, I did, and I NO will power.

[EMDEE]

Healthwise, drinkers may be only harming themselves, but we also need to remember the social problems caused by excessive drinking, both community and domestic problems, domestic violence, breakdown of relationships etc.. How many times do we see the "drink problem" excuse being given in court for violent and stupid behaviour. It is looked on as a bit of a joke like the Chewin'the Fat catch phrase "What are you like?"

I agree the binge drinking culture is pathetic, and a social menace.

Better remember this thread is about smoking.

[Bobbie En Tejas]

Yes, we all have to go sometime, but I'd rather breathe my last breath on my own than have to breathe the last 2 years of my life with an oxygen tank. Your lungs start repairing themselves as soon as you stop smoking (and so does your wallet).

[Sweltered]

Your lungs start repairing themselves as soon as you stop smoking (and so does your wallet).

But then your wife spends all the money you saved on purses.


DAMN YOU MACY'S!!!!!

[Ticketty Boo!]

[quote="Sweltered"][quote="EMDEE"]

PRoviding they don't drive, drinkers are only harming themselves, quote]

The marks on my mother's face may provide another side to your opinion my friend? Coming from a young family with an alcoholic father, the more I think about it - you are unaware of the distinctions drawn between your erse and your elba.

[Sweltered]

PRoviding they don't drive, drinkers are only harming themselves, quote]

The marks on my mother's face may provide another side to your opinion my friend? Coming from a young family with an alcoholic father, the more I think about it - you are unaware of the distinctions drawn between your erse and your elba.

I was condeming excessive drinking, if you had bothered to read the rest of my posting. Talk about being taken out of context. My point was that standing in a bar and drinking harms no one exept the drinker. What that drinker does afterwards is another matter.