On Fri, 17 Nov 2006 20:51:54 +0000, Christian Hansen
wrote:

I am working near Victoria now and when I go to the station to get lunch I'm
often reminded that smoking is still permitted in railway stations.

However, I was wondering if when smoking is banned in pubs and the like next
year will it be banned in railway stations as well? I've done a google but
haven't had any joy.

Unfortunately I think it will be enforced about as much as the ban on
the use of mobile phones whilst driving is, i.e. the odd show trial
but basically just another piece of law that'll be completely
forgotten about after a month or so.

It might be better enforced in small venues like pubs and restaurants
where licencees and their staff can theoretically be punished, but
that said, go to some of the pubs in Watford or many other city
centres and see how well age laws are enforced - i.e. barely.

"Peter Frimberley" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 17 Nov 2006 20:51:54 +0000, Christian Hansen
wrote:

I am working near Victoria now and when I go to the station to get lunch
I'm
often reminded that smoking is still permitted in railway stations.

However, I was wondering if when smoking is banned in pubs and the like
next
year will it be banned in railway stations as well? I've done a google
but
haven't had any joy.

Unfortunately I think it will be enforced about as much as the ban on
the use of mobile phones whilst driving is, i.e. the odd show trial
but basically just another piece of law that'll be completely
forgotten about after a month or so.

It might be better enforced in small venues like pubs and restaurants
where licencees and their staff can theoretically be punished, but
that said, go to some of the pubs in Watford or many other city
centres and see how well age laws are enforced - i.e. barely.

Whilst I feel the law on driving with mobile phones could easily be enforced
(remember the law on seatbelts...), I think the smoking ban is perfectly
enforced in Scotland and I see no reason why it won't be likewise in
England.

Michael

Peter Frimberley wrote:
Unfortunately I think it will be enforced about as much as the ban on
the use of mobile phones whilst driving is, i.e. the odd show trial
but basically just another piece of law that'll be completely
forgotten about after a month or so.

Contrary to popular belief, and seemingly unknown to journalists,
Ireland first introduced legislation enabling restrictions on smoking
nearly twenty years ago. It was not fully enabled until the 1st January
1996, where it prohibited smoking in many public places including
waiting rooms in railway and bus stations. It was widely flouted and
rarely enforced.

The well known 2004 legislation in Ireland relates to smoking in the
*workplace*. It carries with it more weight than a generic public space
ban as it is effectively a right to a smoke-free environment at work.
This seems to be a more widely acceptable restriction although attitudes
to smoking have also changed somewhat since 1996.

As the UK legislation is an enclosed public space ban, I suspect you are
correct and it will not be supported or enforced as strongly as an
explicit workplace ban probably would.

ESB

Ernst S Blofeld wrote:
As the UK legislation is an enclosed public space ban,

England and Wales, rather.

ESB

Peter Frimberley wrote:
On Fri, 17 Nov 2006 20:51:54 +0000, Christian Hansen
wrote:

I am working near Victoria now and when I go to the station to get lunch I'm
often reminded that smoking is still permitted in railway stations.

However, I was wondering if when smoking is banned in pubs and the like next
year will it be banned in railway stations as well? I've done a google but
haven't had any joy.

Unfortunately I think it will be enforced about as much as the ban on
the use of mobile phones whilst driving is, i.e. the odd show trial
but basically just another piece of law that'll be completely
forgotten about after a month or so.

It might be better enforced in small venues like pubs and restaurants
where licencees and their staff can theoretically be punished, but
that said, go to some of the pubs in Watford or many other city
centres and see how well age laws are enforced - i.e. barely.

I was in Edinburgh recently and the air in the pub seemed very fresh,
so the ban is working there.

wrote in
ps.com:


Peter Frimberley wrote:
On Fri, 17 Nov 2006 20:51:54 +0000, Christian Hansen
wrote:

I am working near Victoria now and when I go to the station to get
lunch I'm often reminded that smoking is still permitted in railway
stations.

However, I was wondering if when smoking is banned in pubs and the
like next year will it be banned in railway stations as well? I've
done a google but haven't had any joy.

Unfortunately I think it will be enforced about as much as the ban on
the use of mobile phones whilst driving is, i.e. the odd show trial
but basically just another piece of law that'll be completely
forgotten about after a month or so.

It might be better enforced in small venues like pubs and restaurants
where licencees and their staff can theoretically be punished, but
that said, go to some of the pubs in Watford or many other city
centres and see how well age laws are enforced - i.e. barely.

I was in Edinburgh recently and the air in the pub seemed very fresh,
so the ban is working there.


I'm sure that the landlords of the 200 pubs that have closed in Scotland
since the ban because they were no longer making sufficient profit to
warrant staying open will disagree with you. As would I.

In Spain they tried to introduce a ban last year but it failed - they now
have a voluntary system: Bars over 200 square metres have to have a no
smoking area (or can choose to be totally no-smoking), bars under 200
square metres can decide whether to be EITHER smoking or non-smoking and to
put up clear signage. Absolutely brilliant idea. People have a choice.

Because children are no longer (meant to be) able to go to them if they're
all smoking, this has meant that there have been plenty of pubs and bars in
Spain that cater for non-smokers (normally ones that have always been
popular with families) and plenty that cater for smokers (normally ones
where the landlord is also a smoker, or ones where kids don't tend to
frequent).

Which is excellent, as it also means that smokers can enjoy pubs and bars
without screaming kids making a nuisance of themselves. I dare say some
non-smokers will start coming to the smoking bars for a quiet drink! :-))

I don't think it will be anywhere near as well observed here in England as
it has been in Scotland and Ireland...

Tristán White wrote:


I was in Edinburgh recently and the air in the pub seemed very fresh,
so the ban is working there.


I'm sure that the landlords of the 200 pubs that have closed in Scotland
since the ban because they were no longer making sufficient profit to
warrant staying open will disagree with you. As would I.

I think they would agree the ban is working. They may disagree over the
ban.

By the way, ho many closed in the year before the ban?

In Spain they tried to introduce a ban last year but it failed - they now
have a voluntary system: Bars over 200 square metres have to have a no
smoking area (or can choose to be totally no-smoking), bars under 200
square metres can decide whether to be EITHER smoking or non-smoking and to
put up clear signage. Absolutely brilliant idea. People have a choice.

Banning things in Spain is very difficult. But people don't have a
choice. You go where your friends go or you stay in. I'm uncomfortable
with the idea of forcing people to not smoke in pubs, though from a
personal point of view I'm much more likely to frequent a pub where I
don't smell of other people's cigarettes when I get home.

Because children are no longer (meant to be) able to go to them if they're
all smoking, this has meant that there have been plenty of pubs and bars in
Spain that cater for non-smokers (normally ones that have always been
popular with families) and plenty that cater for smokers (normally ones
where the landlord is also a smoker, or ones where kids don't tend to
frequent).

Children are accepted in many bars late at night in Spain, but not in
the UK.

Which is excellent, as it also means that smokers can enjoy pubs and bars
without screaming kids making a nuisance of themselves. I dare say some
non-smokers will start coming to the smoking bars for a quiet drink! :-))

I doubt it - any non smoker will prefer the noise of kids, and even the
smell of nappies to the smell of cigarettes. Besides - we don't have
the option here.

I don't think it will be anywhere near as well observed here in England as
it has been in Scotland and Ireland...

I really don't know. Why do you think that?

In article om,
wrote:
Tristán White wrote:

Which is excellent, as it also means that smokers can enjoy pubs and bars
without screaming kids making a nuisance of themselves. I dare say some
non-smokers will start coming to the smoking bars for a quiet drink! :-))

I doubt it - any non smoker will prefer the noise of kids, and even the
smell of nappies to the smell of cigarettes. Besides - we don't have
the option here.

Getting well OT for UTL, but as a non-smoking parent may I say that I
prefer the smell of fags (whether or not augmented with herbal mixtures)
to the noise and/or smell of kids (especially nappies). Sorry Alex but
you don't speak for me.

That's quite apart from the fact that my Scottish clubbing contacts
tell me most nightclubs now smell predominantly of farts and sweaty BO.
I really rather would have a light haze of smoke whilst I talk to my
friends than a reek of of farts, if it's all the same to you.

Nick

On Sat, 02 Dec 2006 23:54:13 -0000, wrote:

I was in Edinburgh recently and the air in the pub seemed very fresh,
so the ban is working there.

I was in Dublin recently and the air in the pub stank of stale beer and
B.O.
So the ban is working there.

--
Fig

In article om,
() wrote:

I was in Edinburgh recently and the air in the pub seemed very
fresh, so the ban is working there.

We were in Scotland on holiday in the summer. I was also in Scotland
back in January, just before the ban started. The improvement is blissful.

--
Colin Rosenstiel