I think this is one of the healthiest debates relating to being unhealthy we have had here. I'm really enjoying that for once we are voicing our opinions and no one is going nuts. Pretty cool! Long may it continue! Too many arguments here recently, this is kinda nice considering how everyone has someone opposing their own view.

Hope this travels further guys!

(cough, splutter), yes I know I should quit!



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Andy

You need to look at the Alan Car easyway to quit smoking. Between that, forum users Allthumbs and Bigjay. I never would have managed it. I started smoking at six, I quit at 37.

Its all in the mind mate and you can do it. There were hairy moments with me, I failed twice and nearly ended up burying the missus in the garden once. (I even smashed the concrete up planning it)
Once I got my mind right it wasnt that hard to stop at all. Zyban didnt do it for me, or gum, patches, any of that other nonsense that replaces smoking inhalation with direct nicotine to the body. Thats like giving a smackhead methadone to quit heroin with.

Get onto the NHS too mate. Some of them stop smoking counsellors are damn fine.

Yes I'm quit and yes I want smoking allowed in pubs. They stink without stale smoke masking the stale ale and weewee odour and the nicotine addicted drunks are always leary and looking for a fight because their discriminated against.

I first experienced the ban when I lived in New York City, then it happened to Scotland and then the Republic of Ireland and now here in Northern Ireland.

As a smoker I personally hate it. Being outside during winter in any of those places I mentioned is not for the faint hearted. I can understand non-smokers not wanting it about but it would be nice if we had indoor areas to smoke instead of all these outside decks bars have built in Belfast that are only bearable 3 months of the year.

Its like being treated as a second class citizen in many places too. I was at an OUTDOOR train stop the other week with Binterz and a woman told us to stop smoking as it wasn't allowed and then she started rabbiting on about how its damaging her lungs. I then asked if she owned a car, which she did so I told her I didn't own one, which I don't, and that her exhaust fumes are probably causing more damage to my lungs and environment than my cigarette. She then started to say its against Northern Ireland Railways regulations to smoke at a stop so I asked her if she was going to complain to the train driver about his diesel fumes when the train arrived. That finally shut her up!

I miss sitting and having a pint and a cigarette. As a Scotsman in Ireland I think a lot of the culture has gone. Its just not the same. I also used to enjoy smoking while playing a gig. By the time I get to the end of our set I'm choking for one.

As for the smell, I also preferred the smell of cigarettes, during a big gig all I can smell is sweat, piss from the toilets and bleach from the cleaning. I prefer the smell of smoke to any of these!

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