Smoking ban in the workplace - at last !

[peterjhale]

Seems like it's all going ahead - great news:



Small businesses have joined forces to oppose private members bills that could ban workplace smoking in London and Liverpool.

New proposals by Health Secretary John Reid seek to outlaw smoking in all workplaces, going far beyond last year’s white paper which focused primarily on the hospitality industry.

The Prohibition of Smoking in Places of Work Bills will fuel criticism of the government’s ‘nanny state’ policies, with experts claiming that an end to smoking in pubs and other workplaces could cost the UK economy millions.

Furthermore, the proposals would also mean that businesses on whose premises the ban was breached could be landed with up to a £5,000 fine. Such penalties could well spell the end of many small enterprises due to the actions of one employee.

[Corabar Entertainment]

I have read and re-read your post, but I am clearly missing something.

The title and first line ("at last!" and "great news") seem to welcome a total ban, but the rest of the body seems to be given reasons why there should not be a total ban......Have I missed something here?

Angela

[peterjhale]

government are going ahead with the ban

of course some people dont want it

that's all !

[Ian J]

Not sure about factories but most offices have been non smoking for many years. Until I stopped two years ago I used to be a heavy smoker and in the "old days" I used to light up every time the telephone rang or someone came into my office. I appreciated the smoking bans that most companies imposed as it saved me a fortune.

It's a shame that there are so many vested interests at work whenever smoking is discussed as I don't suppose that we will ever get to the truth. I don't doubt that there is a strong link between smoking and lung cancer and other diseases but so called passive smoking is a completely different thing and there seem to be any number of experts with conflicting opinions.

Another interesting statistic would be the amount of money that smoking costs the NHS against the amount of money raised by smoking. Unfortunately the former cost is again wildly variable depending on what point of view is being put forward.

[Corabar Entertainment]

I don't think that anyone is objecting to a ban in workplaces such as offices, factories, etc - as Ian already said, most are non-smoking anyway.

The real controversy starts when you are looking at 'public' places - ie, pubs, clubs, etc which are obviously'workplaces' for the bar staff etc.

I am sure that everyone knows quite a few people who, although they are generally non-smokers, still like to have the odd cigarette when alcohol is involved, and there is great concern within these industries over the likely fall in takings as a result of a complete smoking ban, with people preferring to have drink at home instead (which has happened in many of the places where a complete ban has been put in place)

I recall a thriving pub a couple of years ago which decided to go completely non-smoking - it went bankrupt within 6 months!

Obviously, this is going to have a knock-on effect to our industry....but we will just have to wait and see!

Angela

[inbakumar]

I personally don't mind people smoking in the pubs and clubs eventhough I am not a smoker (except the odd cigar after a big meal ). However, as someone with a young family I find it difficult nowadays to go to a pub for a drink as my wife insist on hosing me down (almost) before I could enter the house.

Since I like a drink now and again in the company of my friends, I welcome - for utterly selfish reasons, a smoking ban in pubs and clubs.

Regards,


Joel
Babylon Business Finance