30 Comments

I’ve never been a smoker but they have been unfairly demonised for many years.

When you see someone sitting on a park bench enjoying a cigarette in quiet contemplation or with a drink outside a pub it’s one of their favourite times of the day. And why shouldn’t it be? They pay more than enough tax for the privilege. Anyone who believes this government (or any government) cares about the health of the nation is deluded.

Hopefully everyone, particularly publicans and the millions of non-smokers, will be against any further restrictions on the rights of smokers but sadly, history has shown the vast majority of people are extremely selfish and cowardly when it comes to standing up to the government, especially if they are not personally affected.

Very interesting comments on the movie Demolition Man. Will have to watch that again 👍🏻

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Many of those that demonize smoking actually smoked themselves at one point in their lives.

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The King's Speech stated that the new government wishes to stop all commercial nicotine products by 2030 (following Sunak's earlier Tobacco and Vapes Bill that aimed to prevent children born after 2009 from ever being able to buy tobacco products).

During the Covid plandemic years, it was discovered that smokers appeared to be strangely protected and nicotine patches were recommended 'on the street' as a preventative and therapy. One doctor's research* into its possible health effects showed that nicotine itself is not addictive. In commercially-produced tobacco, it is the hundreds of other added chemicals that cause cancer and addiction.

Will the future inflict upon us more pandemics from man-made bio-weapons for which a banned nicotine may be a defence?

*Dr Bryan Ardis

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If only 12/13% of people smoke and not everyone of them go to pubs, why is it assumed that pubs will close their doors when the ban comes into effect?

Also, no mention of outside shopping centres, office buildings (a biggie) or bus stops etc? Because we’re all on our phones there?

Bogus reasons. Ulterior motives. 🎯

And you put it well; the government’s only job is to protect our rights.

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Banning the partaking of cigarettes, cigars and pipes wherever they can, supposedly for the individual and greater good, is actually another example of them blowing smoke up the ars*s/asses of all of us.

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I am starting a petition to have the NHS renamed to my name for it, more fitting in terms of its aims, outcomes and suicidal and democidal acolytes… National Homicide Service.

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A very interesting article.

When pursuing 100 per cent perfection, the amount of effort for the last 10 per cent usually exceeds the previous 90 per cent. For this reason, at any given time industrial processes seek perfection but manage affordable imperfection - until the next step becomes viable.

The B-M-A, working for the oiky D-o-c-t-o-r-quacks and of course the N-H-S have had this irrational pursuit of absolute smoking eradication. Meanwhile death from drug abuse along with many other illnesses, goes on with less hysteria. Indeed, smokers have been threatened with non-treatment by N-H-S many, many times.

There are many things to consider and correct, which are way less perfect that the current efficacy of anti-smoking 'information', so it is a pure distraction. 'Look over there!'

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Gosh. That was tough to view - an addict who knows what he wants and is on a fast path to oblivion. Poor soul.

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The Nordic countries, based on the challenging winters, make homelessness very difficult to achieve. Everyone - citizens and Police - took action should anyone be found outside even for a few hours. Street living was not tolerated.

There is in effect a flat or house for every adult.

That was 2 decades ago, and while the policy has not altered I suspect the housing stock 'spare' has been mopped up by mass immigration.

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Thoughtful and well reseached post. Thanks for the links. I have been wondering how they will attack football attendance with its inherent "risk" of social interaction. To this end the Arabs have been used to buy some celebrtated footballers to play abroad in front of tiny crowds. Perhaps this is the first stumbling, exploratory step to diminish the tribalism of soccer support. Similarly, more elite boxers are fighting in Dubai and are watched online.

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You are so damn great at this.

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Excellent article, Miri. Sure you are totally on the ball here!

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Right again.

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Great article. Thanks! Glad someone’s on my side!🤪

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Although I agree it’s probably one of the angles used to damage pubs, not sure I agree it’ll be the death knell to them.

As a previous owner of cafes and now a local grocery shop, I know for a fact communities need a focal point to meet at. Take out smoking, yeah it may effect a few but the draw of what really make pubs brilliant will be too strong (imho).

Tbh factors like minimum wage increases, an increase in staff illness (wonder why), increase in cost of goods, business rates, VAT etc that’ll sink them before a smoking ban.

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And exorbitant energy prices of course!

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You are absolutely on the money, Miri.

But what can we do about it? And everything else what's going on...

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I think if and when the ban comes into place, as many as people as possible should stand outside pubs holding lit cigarettes (they don't actually have to smoke them if they are non-smokers). If enough people did this - and I think many would - it would be a powerful, peaceful form of protest. It would also show the ban was unenforceable - bar staff couldn't possibly tackle hundreds of people, and the police can't be at every pub at once. Worth a try perhaps....

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Good idea! My husband and I will do this. We have a pub just down the road from us!

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Yes ban smoking in public, I'm sick of seeing cigarette butts all over the place destroying our beautiful environment. Then again I'm vehemently against government telling us what we can and cannot do, they are OUR servants!

I see what they've done, it's divide & rule tactics, again. Also distraction, also gobbledygook, is nicotine good or bad against a virus that may or may not exist? Keep the public in a total state of confusion. Or keep whipping the public into a total state of frenzy and hatred towards the present political system until they reach a point where they beg for a new system or draw a line in the sand and make a stand, probably why they're beefing up the police numbers and closing local stations?

Oh I am a smoker by the way, might also start chewing nicotine & buy a spittoon, just in case.

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Very insightful as always. And ugh, now I need to switch to bamboo toilet paper!

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Miri, that Starmer person is quite the gem for the haters of humanity. I wonder what he is thinking (he isn't) as he reads from his daily script.

Slowly taking away people's enjoyment is what is going on for sure. Some restaurants have managed to ban smoking on their outdoor patios where I live for a number of years now and no one seems to care as they comply.

Imagine the day when alcohol is doled out to those who obey.

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