The Smoking Ban 'Con' Argument

News and Current Affaors

‘Pro’ and ‘Con’ Argument

‘The Smoking Ban’

‘CON’ SMOKING BAN

• Hospitality industries ‘Umbrella Group’ believe that after seeing the effects of the smoking ban in New York, they have predicted a decrease of 30% in pub and restaurant takings.

• ‘Forest’ is an organisation which has the motto ‘A haven for smokers and non smokers who believe in freedom of choice.’

• There are talks already in Scotland, where the ban is already in place, of plain clothed tobacco controllers wondering the streets, they will follow home anyone that fail to pay any fines. These Police officers have had a song written bout them by Eric Layman called the ‘Smoke Police.’ (See Blog.)

• Eric Layman is a member of ‘Forest’ and wishes to attack these smoke police. He believes people should have freedom of speech. Non smokers are allowed to campaign as much as a smoker should be allowed to smoke where they so wish.

• One argument against the smoking ban is, where will it stop? What comes next after this ban? Will the government ban drinking?

• ‘Business Tuesday’, explains how a few businesses have already began to feel the strain of the new law with a decrease in profits.

• An American non smoking bar owner says the ban is costing him $70,000 a year gross profit. Is this the future for UK businesses?

• The ban will create many unanswered questions.

• You will not be able to smoke in own car, in a taxi, company cars, company lorry.

• Jen, 21, believes strongly against the future ban. She believes it will reduce options for nights out for smokers, encourage smokers to stay in and she doesn’t believe the ban will have any affect on the decrease of smokers. She believes a small number of businesses will have to close, as seen in Dewi’s in Cardiff.

Jen believes that the ban is a “form of prejudice against smokers” and will have “severe repercussions on this section of society.” She continues, “I am totally against an overall ban. Why not simply assign a few select bars as non-smoking so as to allow both smokers and non-smokers the option to choose.”

• Tom, 22, says that he is also against it as he believes that most people will find a way around anyway. He believes that “physicallybetter off, if I have to go outside for a cigarette I will probably smoke less. Socially I don’t think it will have much effect.