I buy a packet of rolling tobacco for £2.75 and it lasts me a week so I'm not as heavy as I used to be. 35 is the target for me stopping, I'm 28 now and have been smoking since I was 15.

I hate smoke in my house also, I just hate Northern Ireland Railways rules for OUTSIDE station. Its stupid!

CC

_________________
Fender Stratocaster (parts build)
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We're still lucky here in Romania, bar and pubs can call themselves smokers only.
I've met this in Germany as well, in Frankfurt.
No outdoors problems at all (Brian Moloko of Placebo was so happy about this, he had like three cigs on stage when playing Bucharest)
It's only fair to protect non-smokers, but give smokers a break, too, smoking doesn't make me a pariah, does it?
Like CC story, it's some of the non-smokers attitude that pisses me off most; I was in London and was been looked upon like some sort of disgusting form of life for having a cigarette in a smoking designated outside place. Gee, the righteous looks and comments I got.

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La vie est belle, le monde est pourri, make the most of it!

Big time Purple, the 4 nations of the UK are terrible for that!

CC

_________________
Fender Stratocaster (parts build)
Fender Telecaster 72 Custom RI
Fender Telecoustic Deluxe
Gretsch Electromatic Pro-Jet
Gibson Les Paul Standard Plus
Gibson ES-135
Zenith Type-17
Marshall 70's JMP Superbass 100w
Blackstar HT-5

Well, in Dublin the attitude was just the opposite, I totally loved them.
The smoking places were cared about, provided some shelter from the elements and everybody was friendly, didn't see as much as a frown.

_________________
La vie est belle, le monde est pourri, make the most of it!

Yup, its usually great in The Republic, I love Dublin!

Very expensive city though.

CC

_________________
Fender Stratocaster (parts build)
Fender Telecaster 72 Custom RI
Fender Telecoustic Deluxe
Gretsch Electromatic Pro-Jet
Gibson Les Paul Standard Plus
Gibson ES-135
Zenith Type-17
Marshall 70's JMP Superbass 100w
Blackstar HT-5

Very expensive is almost an understatement; the people are amazing though, some of my very favourite people in the world.

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La vie est belle, le monde est pourri, make the most of it!

As someone who has worked in the bar industry for decades, played in bands, and nurtured a drinking habit, I have to say the switch to no smoking has been the absolute best thing ever.

I have never been a smoker, but I am willing to bet I 'smoked' literally decades worth of cigarette smoke.

now the bars are cleaner, and don't stink. I don't know what kind of shitholes you guys go to that reek of urine.

even the smokers I work with all say it is a much better environment, and keep in mind they have to go outside in -40 weather at times to smoke. when you work in a place where literally up to a thousand people are, and hundreds are smoking, you leave with a sore throat, and a headache, it is nice to go home not reeking of stale smoke, and coughing your lungs out.

when the ban was being considered, there was the usual hew and cry from smokers, and timid business owners that it would kill business. however when the ban went into effect there was only a temporary lull. within a month or so, all the smokers started coming back. it's not like the alcoholic gamblers are magically going to give up drinking, or spend more time with their families.

Over all, before the economic downturn, no smoking meant people staying longer, drinking more, and actually we sell way more food now that the air is clean. the non smoking crowd definitely ended up spending more money, because they didn't leave as early as they used to.

I much prefer the bar without smoke. non smoking staff shouldn't have to breathe in all that smoke. Smokers always complain that "you have a choice whether to work in a smokey bar or not" but that is bunk. you could say the same for working in mines without ventilation, working in buildings with toxic mould, or asbestos. frankly employers have a duty to provide as safe a workplace as possible, and it is really easy to remove smoke from the equation.

Your inconvenience of having to go outside to smoke means nothing to me. the pluses of this far outweigh any imagined negatives.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Twelvebar, I never complained about going outside to smoke, I only asked not be treated as a second-hand citizen for being a smoker.
As long as tobacco is legal, I have the freedom of choice to smoke.
Also I appreciate not to be treated as some kind of social lepper.

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La vie est belle, le monde est pourri, make the most of it!

We are all entitled to our own opinions Twelvebar and I respect yours bro but please respect others thoughts on the subject also.

I don't frequent bars that stink of urine, I just go wherever we are booked to play. Its not by choice.

Plus my gripe, had you read my posts is more so with the UK's policy on it and Northern Ireland Railway's.

Also Twelvebar, I bet your car is doing more harm than anyone's cigarettes.

I also agree with Purple and Nikininja. Being treated as a second class citizen is out of order and as long as it's legal to smoke tobacco I will.

CC

_________________
Fender Stratocaster (parts build)
Fender Telecaster 72 Custom RI
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Gretsch Electromatic Pro-Jet
Gibson Les Paul Standard Plus
Gibson ES-135
Zenith Type-17
Marshall 70's JMP Superbass 100w
Blackstar HT-5

You need people to play in front of, all people. I don't like the idea of any Goverment banning things such as this. But, that being said I really dislike someone telling the owner of his business what kind of people he can have in his bar. As for singers and non-smokers it's a help I'm sure. I've always kinda laughed at people selling guitars online saying "kept in a smoke free enviroment", it just means they have never played out anywhere. Laughs..Whats next, do we not like your cologne you're wearing?

No FARTING!

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You're only as strong as
the drinks you pour,
the tables you dance on,
and the friends you roll with.

Its absolutely wrong that any gimp of a pollitician can dictate what someone who owns a building be allowed to do in it as long as their not causing harm or loss. We seem to think these people are our lords and masters their not, their our servants.

I haven't found one pub in England that doesnt stink. Yeah food sales may be on the up but thats not what a real pub is about. For the record the momentary lull after the smoking ban in England is currently approaching 3 years. I've seen more boozers go under since July 07 than I had in ten years previous.
This new anti booze Britan campaign is a utter farce. Alcoholism in the UK will be extinct within 30 years. All the kids are intrested in these days is smack and pills. Even cracks on the decline.

The piety of some non smokers really makes me want to start up again. All this about safe working places is hogswash too, in every industry. It may have stood up years ago, but I really doubt anyone here went into their current job with their eyes closed.

Here's one for you all. In the UK the NHS can refuse to treat you if your a smoker. Does that then mean that as a smoker you can refuse to pay the portion of your income tax, vat, NI, and council tax that goes towards the NHS?
Sod it I'm off down the all night garage for 20 benson.

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No no and no

Its an awesome plan for two reasons:

1. I can go out and not need a shower before i go to bed on getting in from the pub.

2. Chances of me getting lung cancer from 2nd hand smoke are greatly reduced.

I do feel for smokers on cold rainy nights, but i dont agree they are being treated as second class citizens. fact is they if they are smoking around non smokers, they are inflicting the smoke on the non smokers. what is the other solution, tell the non smokers to leave the room when people want to smoke?

Perhaps smoking rooms should be mandatory in pubs now so smokers dont get cold and wet.


I read a comment saying its killing the pub and music scene in places like dublin and belfast and let me tell you thats horsesh!t! Im out most weekends in dublin and the most pubs are crammed shoulder to shoulder on any given saturday night. likewise when i visited belfast a few weeks ago. there is no way they could possibly have ever been busier.

I live in Belfast mate and club nights are NO WAY NEAR what they used to be. We used to drink in a bar all day before a gig or night out. Now we drink in the house and just go for the gig. There has also been a hell of a lot of pubs and clubs closed here due to the smoking ban.

As for Dublin you probably know more than me but I can say I PERSONALLY feel my experience of that fine city is tarnished. I like the atmosphere of smoky bars. Thats all.

But it has had a definite effect on places in Belfast. Many clubs and pubs are empty until a band or DJ come on then everyone starts piling in cos they've been drinking at home beforehand.

CC

_________________
Fender Stratocaster (parts build)
Fender Telecaster 72 Custom RI
Fender Telecoustic Deluxe
Gretsch Electromatic Pro-Jet
Gibson Les Paul Standard Plus
Gibson ES-135
Zenith Type-17
Marshall 70's JMP Superbass 100w
Blackstar HT-5

As an ex-smoker I used to hate going to bars and not smoking but with time I have gotten over it. All in all it is better for society as a whole so I guess I am in favour of it.

Man, I must be getting old.

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CREDO ELVEM IPSUM ETAIM VIVERE