15 replies to this topic

[James (Jim) Hillier]

The anti-smoking laws in my country are very strict, it is basically illegal to smoke anywhere in public. One of the problems is that they (the Government) rushed the laws through without proper consideration. So, almost overnight, smokers were banned from just about everywhere with no mandatory provisions being made at all for designated smoking areas.

As an example: my lovely wife and I recently visited the Brisbane Tennis Center to watch some of the top tennis being played. The complex is massive, encompassing around 5 acres of land, 90% of which is outdoors. Smoking is banned throughout and there is no separate smoking area at all. Although I do entirely agree with the most of the non-smoking legislation, I believe it has been implemented (here anyway) without much forethought nor regard for people who remain in the grip of the habit.

Smoking is illegal but cigarettes are not. If the Government was fair dinkum about the whole thing they would have just banned tobacco products altogether - but they would never do that because they would then lose all that lovely revenue generated by tobacco sales, compliments of the massively excessive tax.

(okay, after that rant - I think I'd better light up a ciggy and relax )

[marko]

I had this argument on a police forum (of all places!) when proposals to ban people smoking in their cars was being spoken about.   As is always the case, the principal behind the idea was good (i.e. to stop people smoking in their cars when children were present) but it rarely works out that way and almost becomes impossible to police it - but when I explained the government wouldn't dare ban tobacco because of the revenue raised from it, I was told I was talking bull because the bill to our NHS service far outweighed the revenue raised from tobacco.   I then decided to do a little homework of my own and discovered that in 2008 it cost the NHS nearly £2.7 billion UK pounds and in 2009 this increased to nearly £5 billion!!.   However, the revenue raised from tobacco in 2009/2010 was something like £10 billion and in 2010/2011 revenue was £11.1 billion.   So if we banned tobacco here in the UK the government would be around £5 billion a year worse off - who would make up that shortfall?, us taxpayers of course!!

[Claw]

Man!!!!!!! You guys sure you're not in America????Ordinary folks use to run for government to help make things better.   Now you have to be a well-trained crook,,er,er,er,Politician just to think about it. Don't you guys know that unless you are "RICH" and never had a care in the world and sleeps in a bed stuffed with money,,that makes you "QUALIFIED" to "KNOW" how poor and average people live,and what they need and how much they suffer???? Their favorite commandment is: "Do unto others then,,leave" !!!!

[D.resolute]

Hello, glad to find this post even it is posted by marko a little earlier. But I do have interest in this topic cause SMOKE catches my attention!!!
I started smoking around primary school, but smoking at that time was not an addiction. Unconsciously, it's been nearly 15 years or so I have smoke and now. I find I couldn't leave it until death. I cannot tell smoking is good or bad. It seems life will be boring if I quit.

[jayesstee]

The Guy who said "It's easy to give up smoking, I've done it hundreds of times" was correct, I 'practiced' for ten years before I succeeded.   But finally, it stuck and that was thirty-one years ago last New Years Eve.  (No patches then!).
Three things helped me.

1.  I got bloody annoyed that I was driving a ten mile round trip at 10 o'clock at night to find a vending machine that sold 'my' brand (no 24 hour stores then!)

2.  I told every bugger who would listen that I WAS going to give up on this pre-ordained date, so it was harder to be seen to fail.

3.  There was a strong tasting savoury snack in the UK called 'Twiglets'.  Sucking, not chewing, one of these was so unpleasant that it took my mind off the dreaded craving.

So marko, go for it, think of the money you will save and magically the interior of your home and car will stay cleaner (I blamed a gas fire for the home decor turning brown!)
Try getting annoyed with yourself,  tell the world and his wife and find your own substitute.

[Claw]

All good reasons jayesstee, I'm actually going on 3 yrs. now and I only had that craving maybe once or twice and dealt with it. I finally quit because deep down I think I just really wanted to.  But now I eat,,a little candy called "atomic fireballs" helped out some,,alas I'm now almost 50,,yes 50 lbs. heavier,,but at 54 yrs. old I can now keep up with my 12 yr. old. My kids ages run from 20 - 3 yrs. old,,so any energy I can get ,,,,I use.