Andy Ashton wrote...

I understand the views of non-smokers, but I don't think anyone should be telling anyone what to do or not do.
The Government taxes cigarettes, so in effect endorsing them, so to then come back and tell people they can't do it is lunacy.
My body is my body, my health is my health, who is anyone to think for me?
Non smokers have a right not to breathe in smoke, but this smoking ban is complete idiocy and hypocracy on the part of the government, and people follow this blindly as they don't care that our human rights, and adult choices are being stripped away one by one.
Are they going to ban car and aeroplane fumes? No, they are INCREASING the amount of planes that will fly across the Atlantic, and that is something that will cause 100 times more damage to all of our health than any flimsy link to passive smoking and cancer.
I will not stop smoking until I am good and reardy, and no beaureaucrat will tell me what to do, unless of course they are willing to stop taxing me for them.

Posted by: Andy Ashton  | March 27, 2007 9:13 AM

Tracey wrote...

I LOVE THE BAN COMING!!!!

I have hated walking down the street on a lovely crisp fresh morning only to get a lungful of smoke!

I know I can't do anything abut smoking on the street but I can't wait to go out and not come home stinking of smoke.

As a non-smoker raised in a family of heavy smokers I grew to Loathe to smell. Friends at school teased me because my clothes would smell of smoke. Do parents think of that?

My dad is quite ill because of years of smoking - he has given out for about 10 years now. Me nad 2 off my sibling developed childhood asthma - most likely from passive smoking.

Roll on July!

Posted by: Tracey  | March 27, 2007 10:09 AM

Andy Ashton wrote...

Get a lung full of fresh air???

Don't make me laugh!
The fumes from cars, motorbikes, planes, industrial pollution and the rotting mountains of refuse mean that there is no such thing as a lung full of fresh air, especially in our cities.

Shall we ban all cars? Ban all planes? Ban Industry? Let's not throw away any rubbish incase they offend people's delicate lungs.

Don't believe the hype, passive smoking is not a killer.

Knee-jerk reactionism is an absolute joke.

You'll all be sorry when the cool people are smoking outside and you boring squares are all sitting inside breathing fresh air from the wonderful air conditioning systems in the many pubs and clubs.

Posted by: Andy Ashton  | March 27, 2007 10:52 AM

Tracey wrote...

I think Andy will find that smoking is no longer cool. Gone are the days of James Dean with a cig hanging out of his mouth looking sexy.

As a non-smoker going out with a smoker. The smell is rank. The taste when we kiss is horrendous!

I will happily sit inside with all my friends (only my boyfriend smokes) while other people sit outside- in the rain, wind etc.

I think you will find that studies have proved that passive smoking can kill and cause problems in children.

There is no doubt that the city is polluted and planes and cars cause pollution but we can do very little to influence that but this ban can make a difference.

Posted by: Tracey  | March 27, 2007 11:19 AM

Karen Miller wrote...

I agree with the first part of your blog. Sometimes you are a knob.

Posted by: Karen Miller  | March 27, 2007 11:22 AM

Shelley Webster wrote...

Looking forward to July, warm weather and fresh air. As a smoker i welcome the ban as that will mean less cigs and more money. If the cigs dont get you some thing else will?

Posted by: Shelley Webster  | March 27, 2007 12:29 PM

Andy Ashton wrote...

This ban will make no difference whatsoever, people will always smoke.
Banning internal combution engines and jet engines would clean the environment up within a year apparently. How about water/hydrogen energy (not hydro-electricity by the way).

Did prohibiton in America stop people from drinking? NO.

There is no evidence to suggest that passive smoking kills, just as much as there is no evidence to prove that it is actually good for you. We all know it isn't good for you, but the crucial link to Cancer or any of these terrible 'smoking related' illnesses is far from being proven on any level.

Treating people like children will not solve any of the worlds problems.

Also, smoking may not be cool, but non smoking is worse.

Get over me.

Posted by: Andy Ashton  | March 27, 2007 12:35 PM

Tracey wrote...

I will mke one final comment but this is an age old arguement that will never be agreed upon.

I fail to see why non-smoking is worse than smoking.

I smell of perfume most days smokers smell of smoke.
I will not cost the NHS anything in relation to smoking related illnesses.
I do not burn people in nightclub or put holes in their clothes.
I do not normally preach to people about smoking - I am just joining a debate.
I will not cause harm to any of my future children.

the list goes on.

Posted by: Tracey  | March 27, 2007 12:42 PM

Andy Ashton wrote...

My final comment then;

Perfume and deodorant is as harmful to your health as smoking, according to some scientists, that is why it comes with warning labels in most parts of Canada.
So stick that in your pipe and smoke it!

Taxation on cigarettes more than pays for it's strain on the NHS. Approximately 3 times over (or should do, if the money is spent correctly).

I do not and will not cause harm to my child or future children.

Knee jerk reactions will be the death of civilised society as we know it.

Roll on the Nanny State, thank you for thinking for me, otherwise I would be lost.

Posted by: Andy Ashton  | March 27, 2007 5:16 PM

Phil Lennon wrote...

I cant wait for July...end of the smoking in public...SICK OF IT!!

And all that crap about 'oooh we gonna ban alcohol too!' again someone else drinkin doesnt get me drunk...breathing in fumes from cars planes etc is the developing world we all live within IT . And have to put up with the need to travel and commute, we dont need to smoke. Pointless.

I wear contact lenses and cant have a full night out without me eyes stinging because of some smokie Joe breathing their smelly breath all over me.

Go in the sewers and smoke if you wish.

OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MIND

Posted by: Phil Lennon  | March 27, 2007 5:18 PM

Andy Ashton wrote...

A drunkard smashing a bottle in your face might change your mind about alcohol young Phillip.
Alcohol is a bigger threat to society than smoking, it is a bigger drain on the NHS, although it probably pays for itself too.

Not one person chooses to live in the developing world, we have this forced upon us like the smoke you're moaning about.

If you don't like it don't go out.

Think about your complete hypocracy next time you drive down the street and pollute this beautiful world.

Posted by: Andy Ashton  | March 27, 2007 5:25 PM

shazza d wrote...

OK - I would like to say something to diffuse the petty row that appears to have begun due to this blog.
Scientists have said that the following is bad for you:
Eating too much, eating too little, cleaning yourself too much, cleaning yourself too little, peroxides, deodorants, cleaning products, carbon monoxide, meat produce, eggs, the air we breathe, the houses we live in - in fact THE WHOLE DAMN UNIVERSE IS MEANT TO BE BAD FOR US. Therefore unless we decide to wrap ourselves in bubble wrap we may be damned forever (unless you're allergic to plastic).
Therefore my personal opinion regarding the smoking ban is that YES i agree smoking is bad for you and others around you HOWEVER i think we should be able to make the choice. Pubs shouldnt have to be forced into the ban if they dont want to - and then we non smokers can choose if we want to enter a smoking pub, and smokers dont have to feel punished for choosing a life style.

Peace to all men - and love to David x

Posted by: shazza d  | March 27, 2007 5:25 PM

Phil Lennon wrote...

There seems to of been a misunderstanding...I couldn't care less about the health worries attached.

ITS THAT YOU ALL MAKE MY CLOTHES AND HAIR STINK!

My Nan smoked a full life till she died at 83 and smoked from 11 didn't do her any harm...but Jesus her house was yellow and you stunk of smoke when you left.

Sick of it!

Posted by: Phil Lennon  | March 27, 2007 5:29 PM

Andy Ashton wrote...

In that case you trade human rights and choice over your own selfish 'needs'.

My final respone to you Phillip is that you don't see the bigger picture.

I vote for a ban, or censorship is a vote for oppression.

I hope you're proud of yourself.

Posted by: Andy Ashton  | March 27, 2007 5:30 PM

Phil Lennon wrote...

To give you all an idea of how dated smoking is then look no further than the world of Football...Everton are the only club as of next season who allow smoking in their ground and you cant get anymore backwards and dated as the Blue shed they call home...especially as 90% of it is wooden...not very clever are they?!

One City One name One club LIVERPOOL

Posted by: Phil Lennon  | March 27, 2007 9:56 PM

Andy Ashton wrote...

Typical of a Liverpool 'supporter' to bring football into a debate in which it bears no relevance. Go on, tell the world again how many times you won it? (As though anyone cares).
I'd rather a ground be 90% wooden, than 100% of the people in there being plastic, although you wouldn't know about that would you? SKY don't have smell-o-vision yet.

Human rights are human rights, whether we be blue or red (unfortunately).

We are your history, you are nothing but the bastard child of Everton.

Posted by: Andy Ashton  | March 28, 2007 8:41 AM

Phil Lennon wrote...

I dont know what you mean by how many times we've won what...could me any number of competitions....and for the record on you being our history we are your dreams and without your club there would be no Liverpool FC...so on behalf of myself and millions of Liverpool fans around the world...EVERTON FC we are truely, truely thankful
Thankyou for creating THE CITY'S CLUB!

Posted by: Phil Lennon  | March 28, 2007 8:56 AM

Andy Ashton wrote...

Smoking?

"Walk on, Walk On, With Hope, In Your Heart, And You'll Always Be, A Self Serving, Self Satisfied, Gang Of Know Nothings, Who Don't Know Their History"

Have fun NOT SMOKING in the McDoodle Stadium.

This is my final comment to you Phillip, I don't normally humour Bitter Reds this long.

Good day.

Posted by: Andy Ashton  | March 28, 2007 9:00 AM

Miguel Bigone wrote...

Tracey, how can you say that passive smiking is not a killer? How do you explain my grandfather dieing of lung cancer despite having never smoked. And you may not need to wear so much perfume and further damage your health if you were not a smoker! By the way, you can't mask the smell of cigarettes and it makes your breath taste foul.

The fact is you can go down the pub every day and not drink and the chances of alcohol affecting your life will reduce. You can go down the pub every day and not drink but the smokers around you will have had a detrimental affect on your life and your health.

Neither smiking or drinking pays enough into the NHS for the devestation they cause. I am not saying a ban is the answer but its a start.

Posted by: Miguel Bigone  | March 28, 2007 9:13 AM

Phil Lennon wrote...

In 1892 Everton left Anfield as they couldn't couldn't pay the rent (not much changed there then eh?) It is your fore fathers narrow mindedness that created the Monster that is Liverpool Football Club.
Your dreams are our reality
For ever in our shadow like the fog that consumes our city today...there is no escape from the big red machine!

Posted by: Phil Lennon  | March 28, 2007 9:33 AM

Tracey wrote...

Miguel,

I think you will find I said that Passive smoking DOES kill. Your comments should be aimed at Andy!
I do not smoke and I very rarely drink.
I hate smoking and believe it harms everyone around you. Please can you reread the comments and see that I never said the things you accuse me of and infact agree with you.

Posted by: Tracey  | March 28, 2007 9:38 AM

Anonymous wrote...

Who is this Phil Lennon. Red Shite

Posted by: Anonymous  | March 28, 2007 9:38 AM

Andy Ashton wrote...

Drinking is worse than smoking.

I don't care.

Let's party.

Posted by: Andy Ashton  | March 28, 2007 9:41 AM

Mark wrote...

I agree wiv the ban cant wait for it to come in
But hey ho lets just live life so we can all have fun lol

Posted by: Mark  | March 28, 2007 9:51 AM

Tracey wrote...

Miguel,

If you look at the name below the comments you'd see.

My first comments begins in bold capitals

I LOVE THE BAN COMING!!! Then talks about me being a NON-SMOKER coming from a family of smokers and hating it. That my dad is ill from years of smoking and me and 2 siblings developed asthma which I believe is from smoking around me.

I then answered ANDY'S comment that smoking is cool by saying it isn't and I hate the taste when I kiss my boyfriend. And that many studies had proved that passive smoking kills.

Then in response to ANDY saying smokers were better than non-smokers I replied with reasons that non-smoking was better such as I smell better! I won't cost money through smoking related illness! I don't burn people in bars etc etc.

Please read EVERY Comment and you will see the debate between Andy and I. Where Andy Promotes the Smoking cause and I disagree!

Posted by: Tracey  | March 28, 2007 10:14 AM

Andy Ashton wrote...

I don't promote the cause of smoking at all.

I promote freedom of choice.

You big gang of Nazis.

Posted by: Andy Ashton  | March 28, 2007 10:21 AM

Miguel Bigone wrote...

Hello Mr Anonymous.

I think you will se that my comment was aimed at Tracey. Thats why I aimed it ather and used her name when making my point.

I do not smoke and can't wait for the ban.

Tracey also staes that perfum and deodorant have adverse affects but you can buy deodorants with no parabans in it and that are water based and these are safer. But a smoker will not be able to use these to mask their odour so she probably has to use something stronger?

Posted by: Miguel Bigone  | March 28, 2007 10:34 AM

Tracey wrote...

MY NAME IS TRACEY!!! I HAVE BEEN RESPONDING TO YOUR COMMENTS AIMED AT ME!!! I HAVE BEEN RESPONDING TO YOU MIGUEL!!!

I DO NOT SMOKE I HAVE NEVER SMOKED I HATE SMOKING!!!

My comments have been anti smkoking.

I never said that perfumes have adverse effects. I said as a NON-SMOKER iI smell of perfume and smokers smell of smoke!

YOU should be aiming your comments at ANDY who DOES smoke. I DO NOT SMOKE I HATE SMOKING!

I can use normal perfume because I don't smell of smoke because I do NOT smoke.

I WANT THE BAN!!!

I have seen the outcome of smoking! My DAD is ILL!!! I had Childhood ASTHMA fomr passive smoking!!!

TRACEY NON-SMOKER!

Posted by: Tracey  | March 28, 2007 11:01 AM

Tracey wrote...

Miguel,

TRACEY AGAIN!

I think you at looking at the name above comments instead of the name below. If you go back and read the comments with the name BELOW. You will see my comments have been ANTI SMOKING and Andy's comments have been for smoking!

Also MR Anonymous who you aimed you last comment at was joining in the football argument by saying

'Who is this Phil Lennon....'

And the comment you were responding to addressed to YOU was my comment again!

I am anit smoking so PLEASE go back and read the comments looking at the name below NOT above and you will see the whole picture!

Posted by: Tracey  | March 28, 2007 11:08 AM

Andy Ashton wrote...

There is no evidence to suggest passive smoking caused your childhood asthma Tracey.

Also, Miguel, with regards deodorants without Parabans, but how many of our population in Britain use them?

Warning labels are fine, but a ban is ridiculous.

Posted by: Andy Ashton  | March 28, 2007 11:15 AM

Miguel wrote...

Tracey are you blind. look at what you typed. I hate people trying to take back what they said when its in black & white

Posted by: Miguel  | March 28, 2007 2:34 PM

shazza d wrote...

To Miguel,

I have been reading this REDICULOUS commentary, and ARE YOU BLIND???
Tracey has condemned smoking and has added comments saying how bad smoking is etc.
I think you need to take your medication and think about how much of a prat you are being.

Think on muppet boy!

Posted by: shazza d  | March 28, 2007 2:43 PM

Anonymous wrote...

Miguel you are an idoit and are messing with Tracey.

Posted by: Anonymous  | March 28, 2007 2:44 PM

Phil Lennon wrote...

Oi Miguel!
I know you dont speak a de English but sort your bog eyes out and check what name goes with what comment ye beaut!

Posted by: Phil Lennon  | March 28, 2007 2:55 PM

Tracey wrote...

Thank you all for your comments and for realising that I am anti smoking and was arguing with ANDY about the benefits of NON-
SMOKING

Tracey

Posted by: Tracey  | March 28, 2007 3:24 PM

Allyson wrote...

Absolute hilarity - looking forward to some more humdingers guys
x x x

Posted by: Allyson  | April 18, 2007 10:00 PM

Joe wrote...

I think the ban is outrageous. Way i see it is that nobody has an automatic right to be in a venue and if the owner says smoking is allowed then it should be allowed. Anybody who doesn't like it doesn't have to go in.

The way it's come about is a bit of a joke as well. Here we have an activity that has no advantages to it, no benefits from it, and according to Patricia Hewitt, the evidence that it kills people is "overwhelming". So why is it still legal? Oh yes... something to do with the £10billion that Treasury rakes in tax on cigarettes and tobacco.

And according to Hewitt: "there is no safe level of exposure to 2nd hand smoke"... so then they go and exempt the bars in the houses of Parliament cause it's classed as a Royal Palace and doesn't fall under the legislation. Hello? Is 2nd hand smoke dangerous or not? Is the same 2nd hand smoke that's too dangerous for my local bar somehow harmless in their bars? Hypocrites. Dunno if they've been pressurised into including those bars in the ban, but the fact that they made them immune to start with speaks volumes!

They'd've had a better argument if they'd banned it cause it makes people hair and clothes smell.

I see in the paper today that Liverpool council are wanting to move towards enforcing a "no smoking in your house for one hour before a council employee visits" rule. And what'll happen in council chappie turns up and fixes your sink then has a cup of tea and a fag. Ye couldn't make it up. If they're that concened, issue them with space suits or something.

Posted by: Joe  | June 18, 2007 5:23 PM