Smoking panel: Inga Dowds

READERS' PANEL Name: Inga Dowds Age: 23 Lives: Glasgow Works: Personal assistant Non-smoker

Smoking: right or wrong, good or bad, everyone seems to have a strong opinion on it.

I've found many mixed feelings on the subject amongst my friends and family, but most are happy that the ban is coming into force.

First there are the smokers. Many of my friends who smoke around 10-20 a day are using the ban to either cut down or stop, in fact three of my friends who have smoked for many years have already completely stopped in anticipation of the ban.

I think this is absolutely brilliant and proves that the ban will have a positive impact.

On the other hand, some other friends who smoke have a more negative opinion.

They feel that they are having a civil liberty stolen; that non-smokers are over-reacting; that businesses will close and bars and restaurants will lose some of their much loved atmosphere.

I don't want my friends, or any person for that matter, to feel pushed out of places they enjoy being in.

Some of my friends are having a 'smoking party'

Neither do I want anyone to feel that they are having their rights infringed.

But what about the people who have been pushed out of these places for years by smokers? Is it not their right to be there without having toxic, carcinogenic fumes inflicted on them?

I personally do not know of any non-smoker who is not eagerly awaiting the ban. At last some fresh air!!!

While my smoking friends are having a 'smoking party' on the night of the 25th, which will last until 05.55, my non-smoking friends will be flocking to the bars the next day to celebrate the long-awaited ban.

Last week I was in a bar with one lone cigar smoker, gradually disappearing into a cloud.

One of the cigarette smokers at my table turned to another and said "what a filthy habit - other people have to breathe this air too!".

The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and are not endorsed by the BBC.

---

We asked for you views on the ban. The following represents the balance of opinion we received.

As an ex-smoker I think the ban is a great idea. When you have kicked the habit the most difficult place to be is in a pub surrounded by the opportunity to smoke, especially if a couple of drinks have lowered your resolve. The ban means that I will be able to go out without fear of temptation, it also means that I can take my young children out to a resturant for a meal and not have to worry about asking someone to move or stub it out to protect my kids health.
meri ferguson, Argyll

There seem to be plenty of places where I can go these days and have a pleasant time, without being subjected to passive smoking. Unfortunately, there seem to be increasingly less and less places to go, to escape from passive nannying however.
P Radford, Brigg, UK

I feel this move is a positive one, personally after visiting some of the fine cities of Scotland I feel people are more inclined to smoke their cigarette outside than in public buildings. Eitherway I feel smokers have little or no right to tell us whether we should have to inhale poisonous fumes because of their lack of respect for their body and disrespect for those around them. Polution is a big thing but atleast there'll be one less thing contributing to it. Kudos to Scotland.
Claire, Norwich

Congratulations Scotland!! I hope our gutless state government down here will ban smoking in pubs soon. We currently have the crazy situation of smoking areas in pubs (of course the smoke knows to stay in the correct area). I¿m not sure if our state government is frightened more of loosing all the tax revenue it gets, or the smoker vote (or both). It would be great to have a night out in Melbourne, and not stink of smoke the next morning... Oh yeah the not getting passive lung cancer thing would be good too.
Nick, Melbourne, Australia

I think that if you want fresh air step outside, theres fresh air galore out there.
CK, Edinburgh

I agree with the smoking ban. All smokers realise the the potential danger retated to their action, but we do not really know the full effects with regards to second hand smoke. We are now seeing a higher rate of lung cancer in those who have never smoked in their lives. So, smokers have every right to continue their habit as long as it will not do harm to others. That why we have the great outdoors where you can smoke to your hearts content.
Karen Johnston, Dundeed

I look forward to the full ban starting in England too. Smokers claim that they have the 'right' to smoke. Well us non-smokers have the right to breathe clean air too and it's right that smoking should be restricted to private homes. I might even start going to pubs again when the ban comes in. Many a time I've left a pub because of excessive smoke or refused to enter in the 1st place.
Paul Phillips, Birmingham

I do smoke....BUT I don't drink. I don't travel by air. I don't own a car - i cycle or walk. I recycle as mauch as possible. I buy environment friendly goods. I have low energy bulbs in every light socket. i Don't use a hosepipe to water my garden. A smoking ban in public places is fine for those who don't want to smoke. ..I just wish these superior Anti-smoking 'moralists' would stop killing me and my children's future with their polluting environmentally murdurous lifestyles. So next time one of you anti-smokers crows about the smoking ban when you're driving your Chelsea Tractor or on a budget flight just think about the consequences. Every car journey you make is a corpse at your feet! You self oppressed idiots! My tobacco duty pays for your healthservice too
Andy, london

So who will make up the short fall in tax revenue in Scotland when the smoking ban comes in?
Phil Boland, Salisbury

Matthew Fenton from Hull writes: "Dont be so silly, No smoking wont make the air fresh.. There are still things like pollution." yes Matthew, we still have things like pollution from cars and factories: but the difference is, cars' exhausts and factories' chimneys aren't pumped into indoor spaces!
Chris Melville, London,

I'll be going out more once the smoking ban is enforced. Perhaps we will notice other smells more,but doesn't that show just how much cigarette smoke stinks? The difference is that the other smells described won't slowly kill me. Cigarette smoking in bars is dead. Let's have fun at the wake!
Mike, UK

As a vancouverite who has gone through all this years ago - everyone was really against it in the beginning but now people can't even imagine or remember what it used to be like. Everybody gets pissed off if someone does smoke around them (ie when you travel and it gets in your clothes and hair) you really notice it - especially the next day. yuk It's very normal - far fewer people actually smoke in Vancouver now as well. The ban there has been hugely positive.
Sally, Vancouver

It's absolutely ridiculous. Pubs are for smoking and drinking. If you're too much of a prude or so self-important to not expose yourself to such behavior then stay at home. I do not agree with any legislation that sets a mandate for private bar owners. Hey, smokers know the dangers, if they want to smoke, let them smoke. I personally can't have a beer without a smoke and I have many friends that don't smoke and don't complain. Enjoy the loss of business!
Tim Nelms, Murfreesboro, TN, USA

We have had a total smoking ban in public places such as bars and clubs for over a year now and it has made going out a lot more pleasant for everyone. Bars have not gone out of business and only a few bars made a stand against the legislation and have been fined as a result. Most smokers want to stop, this is a good way to help them as they are basically addicted to a substance which debilitates and kills them. At least now the rest of us don't have to take part as well when we go for an evening out.
Andrew Thrift, Wellington, New Zealand

Don't get too carried away with this idea of "fresh air". From experience in New York, with the covering stench of smoke now gone you're about to rediscover the joys of old sweat, stale beer and the full force of the gents toilet...
Graham, NY

Finally, the tax-payer's money has been put to some good! The change will bring long-term benefits to thousands. Allowing people to smoke in public has been "yesterday" since the introduction of the warning signs on the cigarette packs (and this was a long time ago). I am surprised that the Government has taken so long to come up with something so obvious. To the smokers: smoking is bad for you, just accept it; you make social life of non-smokers intolerable the minute they step outdoors; making non-smokers inhaling your fumes is selfish, disrespectful and shows complete disregard to their health; you actively contribute to the pollution. To non-smokers: we have won!
Zarina, London

Bring it on, I cant wait for the smoke ban.
Steven, Aberdeen

Dont be so silly, No smoking wont make the air fresh.. There are still things like pollution.
Matthew Fenton, Hull

From my recent visit to Ireland I can say that the smoking ban will be a very positive move. Taking my jumper off that evening there was no stink of smoke - imagine what passive smokers such as myself have been breathing in all these years!
Martin, Reading, England