I'm curious to know if in other countries are they cracking down on tobacco like they are in the u.s. I know Canada is crazy about it. But I'd like to here from our neighbors up north and from all over. Let me know if they are taxing you or banning you from smoking in public,your house. What ever the issue is. Thanks.
Tobacco War
- Thread starter Aaron W.
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High taxes on tobacco here in the UK. Slight variance between Scotland and rest of UK. Here it's no smoking in ANY enclosed* public space, no smoking in the workplace...even if your workplace is a vehicle and you're on your own in it! 
* Enclosed can include anything with a roof and that is walled on 3 sides.
* Enclosed can include anything with a roof and that is walled on 3 sides.
Depending on the province tax is roughly 60%-70% of the purchase price (last I checked, around $10/pack of 25 cigarettes)
No smoking inside public or work places or within nine metres of any doorway leading to a health or social services institution, college, university or child-care facility. (This may be Quebec specific)
I think some provinces have banned smoking in cars with children.
A few years ago we had a partial ban with designated ventilated smoking rooms in bars and restaurants, but that didn't last too long.
There is also a grandfather clause where at the time of the smoking ban if for two years previous to the ban something like >61% of your revenue came from selling tobacco products to be used on the premise you were exempted from the ban, so there are still a few cigar and hookah lounges around.
Personally I thought the designated areas were the smartest compromise, the smoking band has pretty much killed all of my old favouite bars and hangouts. I don't regularly smoke anymore, but it sucks that when I decide to get nostalgic and visit the old bar on a Friday night and it's completely empty.
EDIT: Oh yeah! You're also not allowed to advertise tobacco or have it on visible display in the store.
No smoking inside public or work places or within nine metres of any doorway leading to a health or social services institution, college, university or child-care facility. (This may be Quebec specific)
I think some provinces have banned smoking in cars with children.
A few years ago we had a partial ban with designated ventilated smoking rooms in bars and restaurants, but that didn't last too long.
There is also a grandfather clause where at the time of the smoking ban if for two years previous to the ban something like >61% of your revenue came from selling tobacco products to be used on the premise you were exempted from the ban, so there are still a few cigar and hookah lounges around.
Personally I thought the designated areas were the smartest compromise, the smoking band has pretty much killed all of my old favouite bars and hangouts. I don't regularly smoke anymore, but it sucks that when I decide to get nostalgic and visit the old bar on a Friday night and it's completely empty.
EDIT: Oh yeah! You're also not allowed to advertise tobacco or have it on visible display in the store.
Nothing like self righteous snobs taking it on themselves to save us from ourselves.
I do not smoke, nor do I intend to, but I respect the choice of those that do. That said they should also be willing to face the consequences of that choice.
As to the topic at hand, Australia is quite bad. No smoking anywhere inside a restaurant/bar/pub etc as well as 4 meter distance. No smoking on University grounds or schools, and Im sure a few other things...
I do not smoke, nor do I intend to, but I respect the choice of those that do. That said they should also be willing to face the consequences of that choice.
As to the topic at hand, Australia is quite bad. No smoking anywhere inside a restaurant/bar/pub etc as well as 4 meter distance. No smoking on University grounds or schools, and Im sure a few other things...
I think most 1st world countries are working to put out smoking, as the cost to society is getting to bee too much. 2nd and 3rd world countries are now some of the biggest profit centers for the tobacco industry.
A colleague of mine was fined UK£80 (reduced to £50 if paid within two weeks) for throwing a cigarette butt onto the ground outside our office. She was 'arrested' by quasi-police, who forced her to produce ID etc. They had actually filmed her in the act. It could so easily have been me, as I'm one of the regular smoking crew! Needless to say, I now use one of the foil pouch portable ashtray. A friend says he has heard of someone being arrested for 'depositing cigarette ash on a public footpath'. I really would like to believe that story is BS, but I really can't be sure anymore.
For what it's worth, the above mentioned incident took place near Liverpool Street, City of London. Any smokers working in/visiting that area beware!
For what it's worth, the above mentioned incident took place near Liverpool Street, City of London. Any smokers working in/visiting that area beware!
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Wow. This is some good info. I can't believe its going on everywhere like it is. I quit smoking a few years ago but I'm considering taking up a pipe. I guess once a smoker always a smoker in some way. We have smoke free states where you can't smoke in indoor public places. Ohio has some other rules like in a company vehicle your not allowed to smoke in the vehicle. Strange times we live in and how its changed since I was a kid.
I dunno about the university ban - I attend ANU and there appears to be no such ban in place (and if there is, it's not enforced.)
I, as an ardent non-smoker, LOVE the anti-smoking legislation that you can't smoke in nightclubs and pubs anymore. The only thing worse than the dreaded hangover the next day was when you roll over and smelled the acrid smell embedded in your hair and pillowcases.
And when you took a shower to get the smell out, you felt like vomiting. The foul odour was overpowering.
People raise the argument that you shouldn't infringe on another person's rights. But where do we draw the line? If your right to smoke steps on my right to breathe air that doesn't smell like crap, where is the balance?
This isn't some 'health issues of second hand smoke' rant, but an 'I don't want to smell like crap' rant.
Go! Smoke! Just don't do it near me unless I wander outside. On a sunny day if I sit outside at the pub, I accept that there are going to be people smoking around me. It's a fact. But I deal with it. Just as smokers should deal with the fact that, surprising as it may be, not everyone wants to smell like cigarette smoke.
*I HAVE always been interested in finding out JUST how much a goverment makes from cigarette taxes, and at what level anti-smoking campaign expenses would have to reach before cigarettes are outlawed entirely. We see governments spend millions of dollars on new anti-smoking campaigns, but don't outlaw it?
In The Netherlands smoking used to be done everywhere: at home, in shops, restaurants, pubs the train and even on tv shows.
Smoking has been banned for publuc public places a long time ago (excluding restaurants and pubs etc.). This ban goes even so far that smoking at the train platform is now prohibited.
Since 2008 smoking has been banned for all pubs, restaurants etc. There was lots (and I mean lots) of resistance! Lots of those places have made special air tight smoking cabins (how charming
). But due to a loophole in the law it would actually be possible to have a pub or restaurant where smoking is allowed (as long as you don´t serve in the room where smoking is allowed and as long as you don´t have your bar there). Therefore, the law is currently being revised.
I don't know much about the taxes, as I don't buy tobacco very often. From what I have heard it keeps going up and up. (Within the European Union I think the UK has the highest taxes, not sure though).
Smoking has been banned for publuc public places a long time ago (excluding restaurants and pubs etc.). This ban goes even so far that smoking at the train platform is now prohibited.
Since 2008 smoking has been banned for all pubs, restaurants etc. There was lots (and I mean lots) of resistance! Lots of those places have made special air tight smoking cabins (how charming
). But due to a loophole in the law it would actually be possible to have a pub or restaurant where smoking is allowed (as long as you don´t serve in the room where smoking is allowed and as long as you don´t have your bar there). Therefore, the law is currently being revised.I don't know much about the taxes, as I don't buy tobacco very often. From what I have heard it keeps going up and up. (Within the European Union I think the UK has the highest taxes, not sure though).
I'm all for the smoking crackdowns.
If you want to deal with the risks of smoking, have at it, to yourself. I have no interest in breathing that mess in when I'm out trying to have a good time somewhere.
As far as the banning smoking in the car with children, how could anyone be against that? I get the idea of big brother pushing boundaries, It's just too bad that it came to govt. stepping in rather than people figuring for themselves that puffin 2 packs of second hand camels a day might not be the best thing for a baby.
If you want to deal with the risks of smoking, have at it, to yourself. I have no interest in breathing that mess in when I'm out trying to have a good time somewhere.
As far as the banning smoking in the car with children, how could anyone be against that? I get the idea of big brother pushing boundaries, It's just too bad that it came to govt. stepping in rather than people figuring for themselves that puffin 2 packs of second hand camels a day might not be the best thing for a baby.
Even in 3rd world countries politicians are trying to change things. Here in Davao there is a blanket smoking ban on the streets downtown, government buildings and restaurants (including outside seating to said retaurants if the seating is covered). It's hard to change the opinions of so many smokers here, especially when it costs 15 pesos for a pack of cigarettes (about 30 cents).
BrSpiritus
kapag ang gobyerno ay maaaring ayusin ang kanilang sariling mga katiwalian, at pagkatapos ay maaari silang magsimulang magtrabaho sa atin. eh?
For the Mods:
After the government fixes their own corruption, then they can start to work on us.
Every city that implements a smoking ban experiences a dip in bar business, but it tends to pick back up quickly as smokers still go out (but just smoke outside) and more non-smokers end up going out because it's a much pleasanter experience.
Anyways, I hardly see Montreal's social scene dying out b/c of a smoking ban, Montrealers like their socializing too much. Remember, this is the only city in North America that has a dozen or so large clubs that only open at 2am
Two famous anti-smoking advocates were Ivan the Terrible and your friend and mine Adolf Hitler.
Great to see we've progressed so far.
Great to see we've progressed so far.Godwins law in 14 posts
How clever of you.
Only people with guilty consciences, believe that pap. Try something a little more original next time.Two famous anti-smoking advocates were Ivan the Terrible and your friend and mine Adolf Hitler.
But people can find statistics and famous figures from history to support any argument, misguided or not.
I believe it was Churchill that said 40% of people know that.
But seriously...are you honestly comparing all anti-smokers to Ivan or Adolf? Is that much more mature than a Godwin's Law joke?
Shortly after the smoking ban came into force in England, a woman in a pub's beer garden accused my friends and I of deliberately smoking upwind of her. We pointed out that the legislation prohibited smoking indoors, not indoors and outdoors when the weather's nice.
Honestly, some people want the moon on a stick.
Honestly, some people want the moon on a stick.
I absolutely agree. Seriously, smoking is fine - hell, I'm a big fan of the smell of tobacco burning - but I can't see the appeal to a building choked with old, stale smoke.
I think the laws are getting kind of ridiculous... I always found smoking advertisements to be stupid and embarrassing; they advised me on which brands to laugh at rather than which to like. Then again, I'm not a smoker, so perhaps my brain is just wired differently. The advertising bans and ruining of the packages with gross photos don't seem to have any effect on a person who is determined to smoke, anyway.
I was in favour of the smoking ban when it came out. My wife has bad asthma and passive smoke causes her real problems.
I've since recanted my support. Sure, smoking causes us problems, but nothing we couldn't work around. And the persecution of smokers is just another thread in the tapestry of out of control authoritarianism.
We're on the sharp end of that stick often enough ourselves.
I've since recanted my support. Sure, smoking causes us problems, but nothing we couldn't work around. And the persecution of smokers is just another thread in the tapestry of out of control authoritarianism.
We're on the sharp end of that stick often enough ourselves.
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