Smoking Ban - One Month On .....

Well the smoking ban is just over one month old – so what “does the team think” ?? OK the total silence there gives me free rein to say my piece.

FOR - I’m sure that pubs are now that much cleaner air-wise – in the “Manchester Evening News” they did the ‘before and after experiment’ in one city centre pub showing a 60% improvement in air quality.

AGAINST – I’ve talked to a number of people who work in busy “city centre” pubs, and also people who go in same – some of them have noticed a problem with personal hygiene – i.e. the general smoky atmosphere disguised the fact that there are a lot of smelly, unwashed, unkempt pub goers out there – which to some people is actually WORSE than the smoke..

FOR – Bar staff have one less big jobby to do at the end of the evening, i.e. cleaning out loads of ash trays.

AGAINST – These same bar staff have been given an “extra line” in their job description, i.e. policing the non-smoking policy in the pubs – which includes checking out the bogs does it not ??? And see the next section…I’m sure it could happen to bar staff as well – remember the intolerant society we live in – on both sides of the smoking argument….

MORE AGAINST – Security guard in London club trying to sort out “illegal” smokers – gets murdered – now that was not expected. On Stalybridge Station (you cannot now smoke on ANY station platform in England – enclosed or not) we have miserable git Garry (station staff) who due to his incapability of using a bit of discretion and politeness ends up causing grief, which led to him having to call the police (who I’m sure DID have far more important things to do – murder, robbery, speeding (HA !) – but still turned up in 10 minutes flat – priorities !!)

FOR – More non-smoking people can now go out to the pub in the full knowledge that they’ll be entering a smoke-free atmosphere.

AGAINST – Before the ban these non-smokers were already going to certain pubs anyway i.e. the out-of-town pubs where smokers were already “discouraged” due to the fact that the “pub” made their money on food rather than beer. The non-smokers sure as hell are not frequenting some of the pubs that I frequent (you know the street-corner type places – the true definition of the word “pub” – yes public house) – these are the pubs that will slowly die – i.e. the true pubs. The Bar/Restaurant type of stuff will thrive – I’ve no problem with that. I used to go in places like this – and I respected the rights of the eaters – viz no fags DESPITE there not necessarily being a “no smoking” ban. Could we argue that the “actions of a few” has caused “sh*t for the many” – it’s the usual case in this nannyUK we live in a few peeps misbehave – so everyone suffers …

FOR – We’re all going to be more healthy

AGAINST – I still have to negotiate carbon-monoxide emitting, gas guzzling 4x4 monsters on my way to the railway station. Bring on the congestion charges – will probably help to pick up the tax loss caused by the non-smoking ban eh what ??

Don’t forget – I gave up the evil habit a few months ago to pay for the camera – I now see myself as an “occasional smoker” having the odd one rather than the odd 30 !! My heart is still with the smokers in their fight against intolerance, aggravation and general stupidity – although the killing of a security guard for the sake of a smoke shows you just how much intolerance can go the other way.

Talking to Bruce tonight – this whole “standing/sitting outside” syndrome is not exactly causing havoc – it might be fine in Dublin where you go out for the craic cus there’s no bugger in the pub – but it’s playing havoc with previously well ordered friendships/meetings/night outs where some “do” and some “don’t” – people are being brought together in a different sort of way - people are also being split up from their normal friendship groups – yes meet new people but ….would you leave your beer outside while you went in for a pee ?

It’s just a shame that a “status quo” – if you like – has been violated - since then we’ve heard of ideas to put 7p on a pint of beer to discourage “binge drinking” - what’s next ?

Please see this as a "discussion dicument" by the way - I've certainly had a few "rants" on various messages boards around the non-league world - tis (and always will be) a subject where I "have a view" and one which confuse the "baccy fascists" who have have a much larger platform ....