The growing trend of smoking bans

We’ve already gone back and forth on the whole smoking debate quite a bit, but I felt compelled to reopen the discussion after stumbling upon an article in The New York Times.
Apparently, starting March 29th, Ireland is going to implement a total ban on smoking in pubs, restaurants, and all workplaces... and they aren't playing around—fines for violators are set at $3,000!
It seems like not a single member state in the European Union has stepped up to challenge this law.
Only time will tell if this becomes a broader trend across Europe.
What do you all think? Is this something the US should be looking to implement here as well?

I’d honestly love it if I could just get to my college classes without being choked out by car exhaust every single morning.🙂

When are we finally going to see some actual legislation on this? The fumes from all these cars are doing way more damage to our health than cigarettes ever could. You really can't convince me that we need to crank up the engine for every tiny little trip... To me, acting like smoking is the only big problem while ignoring all this pollution feels incredibly hypocritical.

Casey Palmer5 said:I’d honestly love it if I wasn't being poisoned by car exhaust every single morning on my way to campus.🙂

When are we actually going to see legislation like that? Cars are arguably more toxic than cigarettes, and frankly, you can't convince me that every tiny errand requires firing up an engine. To me, the obsession with banning smoking while ignoring tailpipe emissions feels incredibly hypocritical.

The argument isn't necessarily about the total level of harm, but rather the immediate nuisance factor. When you're sitting in a pub or riding the subway, a bus, or a light rail, cigarette smoke hits you directly. But when you're crossing a street near a busy boulevard, those exhaust fumes don't feel quite as intrusive, even if they might be doing more damage in the long run. It’s simply much easier for regulators to ban cigarettes than it is to tackle the entire automotive industry.

Seriously though... maybe they should pass some kind of law against not washing up. Honestly, the stench radiating off certain people does more damage to my health than an entire carton of cigarettes. I mean, I’ve never once gotten a migraine or felt like throwing up from smoking, but this? This definitely does the trick.
Can I actually sue those individuals for endangering my health?

Or what about the neighbors living in that rundown alleyway across from my building who burn furniture just to stay warm? Ugh... the smoke just drifts right through my balcony door...🙄

northernfalcon9 said:It’s not really about how much damage is being done, it's more about the sheer annoyance factor. Think about it—when you're sitting in a pub or riding on a train, a subway, or a bus, cigarette smoke is a huge nuisance. But when you're just crossing the street near heavy traffic, those exhaust fumes don't bother you nearly as much, even if they might actually be worse for you. It's just way easier to ban smoking than it is to ban cars.

Look, I think they should just have separate sections in bars—one for smokers and one for non-smokers. That way, everyone gets a choice. It's not like you're forced to go to a bar in the first place, right?

As for public buildings, transit, and stuff like that, I am all for banning smoking there...

Personally, it's the exhaust fumes that get to me. Honestly, ragweed pollen bothers me too, mostly because some people don't take care of their property, letting weeds run wild. Same goes for city services that don't maintain green spaces properly. It’s annoying AND it’s bad for you. Could I sue them for it? Sure. Does it bother me? Absolutely...
By the way, it's not just me either; at least a quarter of Americans feel the same way.

Casey Palmer5 said:Honestly, even ragweed gets under my skin because some people just refuse to maintain their property, letting weeds take over everything. It’s the same deal with the local city services failing to upkeep public parks and green spaces. It’s an eyesore and a genuine nuisance. I could certainly sue them for it—does that bother me? Absolutely.
And it isn't just me; at least a quarter of Americans feel the exact same way.

I’m right there with you on the weeds; they drive me absolutely crazy! I’m convinced there should be some kind of fine for anyone letting their yard turn into an overgrown mess. I used to struggle with dust allergies too, which led me to undergo two years of desensitization therapy (if I spelled that right😁). I probably needed another three years of it, but life just got in the way.

There’s a fine being handed out, but honestly, I haven't heard of anyone actually paying it yet. Such a shame...

Casey Palmer5 said:Yeah, honestly... they might as well pass a law against poor hygiene too. The scent of certain individuals drifting my way feels far more detrimental to my health than an entire carton of cigarettes. I mean, I’ve never once suffered a migraine or a sudden urge to vomit from smoking, but I certainly have from this.

Personally, the stench of someone who doesn't wash never really hits me—unlike cigarette smoke. 🙂 If someone smells bad because they haven't showered, I just step half a meter away and the problem is solved.

In principle, smokers don't actually bother me that much—though I occasionally refuse to let people smoke in my car, mostly because the smell just clings to the interior in such a revolting way—but nothing is worse than coming home from a Club, or a bar, or whatever, and realizing that because it's winter and you can't stay outside, my hair, my clothes, even my skin all reek of smoke.🙂

Anyway, I don't entirely agree with that legislation... I think smokers should also have the right to go somewhere where they can actually light up. As for implementing a law like that here in the States, it wouldn't really matter—it's not like people would actually follow it regardless.

I feel like we really ought to ban smoking in all public spaces and buildings altogether, you know? Like, if you want to light up, just head outside and do your thing out front. I bet a lot of people would suddenly find themselves quitting if they had to trudge around in ten-below weather just to grab a smoke, I guess. The real issue here is probably just how things actually get enforced, though. We should probably bring in some super strict penalties and actually make sure people are paying them, too. It’s kind of like how in the States, you can't smoke inside bars anymore... you just gotta step outside if you want one. And honestly, you shouldn't even be allowed to walk into a bar where they serve alcohol if you're under 21. Because if the cops actually decide to do a raid and catch someone, the owners would be absolutely screwed, I suppose.

Honestly, you can't exactly maintain a six-foot distance from someone who hasn't showered in weeks... Sometimes it’s just impossible, like when you're packed into a subway car or providing a service—well, okay, you don't work with people, but I do, and sometimes I have to deal with people who aren't exactly being hygienic. You can sense it from three feet away. Sure, the stench doesn't travel that far, but it makes you want to gag, and for me, it triggers these awful headaches... it's just terrible.

Personally, I'd feel pretty lousy if smoking were banned everywhere except inside your own home, similar to how things are in Ireland. I wonder if they even let you smoke on the street there. I mean, seriously... what if you can't even sit on a bench in a little park and light up? I'm totally fine with bans in public institutions, but banning it in bars and restaurants feels like overkill. There are better ways to handle it. Plus, if they go through with that, so many local businesses are going to go under.

Anyway, decent air conditioning actually solves the smoke problem in clubs, but the issue is that owners often don't want to shell out the cash for it. I remember visiting a few clubs abroad where I didn't smell a hint of cigarette smoke, even though people were smoking and it was perfectly allowed.

The fact that the legal age in the US is 21 honestly drives me crazy, but I'll try to hold back since it's a bit off-topic here. Over there, you're old enough to own a gun at 18, but you can't even grab a beer until you're 21. Give me a break... 🙄

Elizabeth Foster20, major props to you for tolerating smoking in your car occasionally if you're a non-smoker. I couldn't do it. Not in my car and definitely not in my house (unless a window is wide open). I get why it bothers people, because it bothers me too, and I'm a smoker. Luckily, the AC usually clears it all out. 🙂
It never even crossed my mind to smoke in someone else's car or apartment if they don't smoke, not even to ask permission. It's just common courtesy. The only place I rarely visit is 😁, but then again, they're the ones who come to me.

I’m sick of reading some magazine almost every single day claiming the "solution" isn't just banning smoking in public, but treating nicotine like it's somehow worse than heroin or other heavy narcotics—just pure American idiocy. I walk into a Club to grab a drink and have a smoke, and suddenly some woman starts coughing her head off and waving her hands around because the smoke "bothers" her. WELL, WHY DID YOU COME TO A BAR IF YOU CAN'T STAND SMOKE? If it bothers me when someone farts, should we pass a law banning farting in public?
In New York City, they’ve already banned smoking in every single bar and club, and everyone is acting all happy while they snort cocaine. The very people pushing these laws are snorting coke every two hours, yet they have nothing better to do than tell normal people—people without any history of violence or whatever—that we can't smoke or shit (pardon my French). They act like we're destroying the planet, or they waste millions filming MTV Real World episodes where people cry all day about the dangers of secondhand smoke or how their favorite cat got stuck in a tree and they need four fire trucks and two ambulances to help it down.
They don't smoke, sure, but they're sleeping with whoever they want, smoking weed, and snorting cocaine, then heading to church just so they don't feel guilty. Then, suddenly, they get a "brilliant" idea to do something positive, like sending a letter to the Governor about how many people in the US die from lung cancer every day.
And don't even get me started on planes. We get stuck on a flight for 15 hours chewing gum while they're in the restroom snorting lines or getting high talking about Jesus and how we should follow His path—all while we're just trying to enjoy one lousy cigarette that hasn't caused even 1% of the damage caused by the hard drugs these anti-nicotine crusaders brought to the streets.

I’m posting this here because you guys seem to value a healthy body and mind, yet you live in Europe where most people had their first love with a cigarette. I wanted to get your take: do you think it's inevitable that they'll ban cigarettes in public places soon? They already killed off restaurants that used to have smoking sections taking up maybe 15% of the floor space—which didn't bother us smokers at all—but they wiped those out too. What's your opinion on smoking bans in general, whether it's in public or inside your own four walls?
I watched this documentary where a woman complained because her upstairs neighbor was smoking in his own room, and apparently, a tiny bit of smoke could travel through the Air conditioning and threaten her precious cat, which she considers a violation of animal rights.
Honestly, people in America give animals more rights than human beings. I'm going back to Europe.....

bluewolf4 said:Whenever I hit up a Club and I'm just vibing with a smoke and a drink, and then some woman starts coughing her head off and waving her hands around because the smoke is "bothering" her... I mean, WHY are you even at a bar if you can't handle the smoke? If I get annoyed when someone farts, should we pass a law banning farting in public places?

Look, one person's freedom ends where someone else's begins. By smoking around non-smokers, you're actually infringing on their space—in that scenario, you're the aggressor. Sure, you can start ranting about how it's your right to smoke and all that nonsense, but honestly? You don't have that right, at least not from a moral or ethical standpoint. I bet you feel like a victim when you're told you can't light up somewhere, don't you? But you aren't the victim. Just remember that. And if you can't wrap your head around it, the law will eventually force you to... 😉As for the farting thing—you really took that one too far.

How exactly did I go too far? If someone’s complaining about noise in a nightclub because they happen to be dealing with a mental health issue and taking sedatives, do they really have the right to plug their ears just like someone else might wave smoke through the air? If you aren't mentally or physically up for it, why even show up to places like this? In clubs, smoking is perfectly legal (for now), just like dancing, shouting, and grinding. If most people in the venue are smoking, why is one person there coughing and waving their hands around because of it? This place was built for this vibe, and they’re actually the minority, not us smokers.
Look, when we smokers find ourselves in the minority—like on a plane or in certain public spaces—we hold back. But honestly, it’s getting to the point where even in venues designed for us, we’ve got individuals making a scene. If someone with HIV worked with me, would I demand a law to ban them because my health is at risk if they accidentally cut themselves and spill blood? Are we smokers going to start demanding laws to kick people out of public spaces just because they have the flu and are spreading viruses everywhere they cough? Is that how it works now?

I've always felt that nightclubs aren't really designed specifically for smokers, but rather for everyone to enjoy together, so they should be considered public spaces. Just because you might feel a certain way about it doesn't mean you have to take it out on me. If you need a smoke, maybe it's better to just head somewhere where it's actually permitted. I suppose we haven't seen any federal smoking bans for indoor public venues passed yet, so people can still smoke wherever they please for now, though I'm hopeful that might change before too long.

nimblebear43 said:Clubs aren't built just for smokers; they're for everyone. They're public spaces. Just because you're dying doesn't mean you have to take me down with you. If you want to smoke, go find a place where it's actually legal.

Fine. It's legal in clubs, and that's exactly where I'll do it—without some girl who's had way too many cocktails grabbing at me.
I'm asking for your take: should we pass a law banning smoking in all public places?

Exactly.
And just one more thing, when she’s getting high on cocaine, she’s doing that to herself, not to you. You aren't the one at risk from her snorting lines... she's the one facing the consequences of your smoking instead.

Spot on. I’ve gotta hand it to bluewolf4—you hit the nail on the head. Honestly, what is it with people thinking they can just light up anywhere? Look, I don’t even smoke, but I’m constantly stuck breathing in everyone else's secondhand stench. It’s infuriating. 🙄

I’m not buying it. At this rate, smoking is starting to feel like a pursuit of some misguided ideal.

I quit, mostly because I started feeling like a second-class citizen.
Look, back home, the anti-smoking movement was always intense; people knew what they were getting into when they picked up a habit. But here? A few years ago, you couldn't find a single scrap of information about the actual health risks of smoking.

Then, overnight, everything shifted. It went from warning labels on packs to full-blown bans in public spaces.

It’s nothing more than a fad—a trend driven by a desperate desire to look more like Americans. 🙂

But seriously, why this? And is it actually working?
Why not just create designated zones where smokers can hang out and enjoy their smoke without being harassed? Fine, make the entry fee higher, but at least they won't have to deal with non-smokers lecturing them.

Heheheh... If only it were that simple. The European Union still earmarked billions in subsidies for the tobacco industry this year. And guess who's footing the bill? Everyone, not just the smokers. 😉 Meanwhile, the bans are getting harsher; pretty soon, we'll have people patrolling the streets with clubs to enforce them.

This isn't about awareness or health concerns; this is about stripping away personal freedoms.
They claim they want to make cigarettes inaccessible to kids. Please. Forbidden fruit is always the sweetest.
They also argue they want people to stop smoking at any cost, even through bans, claiming addiction is worse than drugs or alcohol. Okay, fine—but if that's the case, why not register all smokers as addicts and offer them support? Give them free treatment and a month of paid medical leave to detox.
But no, they aren't actually serious about that. Obviously.

swiftscout8, listen, cults sometimes go into a frenzy and then panic over their own actions once the hype dies down. Trends pass. Just look at those girls wearing neon clashing shoes. I bet in a few years, they'll be scrubbing those photos from their social media.
😁

1. Honestly, comparing farting to smoking is a bit of a stretch. I mean, when I’ve had too many beans, I might let one rip maybe once every five minutes or so, but you aren't going to get lung cancer from that—unless there’s some obscure scientific study out there proving farts have side effects... and besides, it doesn't make your clothes smell like smoke!

2. I'm not really a fan of outright bans. Personally, I think it would be better if we just passed some legislation requiring every single diner to have heavy-duty ventilation running constantly.

3. A lot of non-smokers—not everyone, but plenty—don't seem to have much etiquette. They hide behind the idea of "personal freedom" to light up whenever they want. But look, I try my best to hold back my gas while people are eating. Even if someone is just two or three tables away, if my stomach is acting up, I'll just head to the restroom. It would be nice if smokers showed that same courtesy and didn't smoke while I'm trying to enjoy a meal, but unfortunately, it feels like too many people feel entitled to season my food with their smoke.

4. Farting is just a natural thing you can't always control. If smokers were born with a cigarette permanently clamped in their mouths and absolutely had to light up just to manage physical pain, then I might have an argument, but otherwise... just back off.

5. I really wish we had the practice here in the States where we slapped a massive tax on cigarettes. And not just cigarettes—alcohol too. All that extra tax money should go directly into the healthcare system. That way, people dealing with illnesses that are clearly linked to smoking could actually be contributing to the cost of their own treatment ahead of time.

6. I don't think smokers are second-class citizens. I have my own bad habits that are hard to kick, too, but at least I don't force them on anyone else.

7. Anyway, I'm tired of typing this out.

S

Betty Hill82 said:They also say they want people to stop smoking at any cost, even if they have to pass bans to do it, because they view it as an addiction worse than drugs or alcohol. Okay, fine, but then why not just register all smokers as addicts? Maybe we could give them concessions like access to free rehab and the first month of paid medical leave so they can actually get clean?
No, it’s really not that SERIOUS. I mean, seriously...

Sure, okay, maybe you get those perks and everything else, which sounds great on paper, but if you actually get caught smoking, buying, or selling cigarettes, you're heading straight to prison, just like it is with drugs. It's pretty much the same thing! 😉 !

Sh