General Chat

I can not understand why the government wont ban the sale of cigarettes. They will make it uncomfortable for smokers but wont go that extra step and put the Tabacco companies out of business, its WRONG!! Taxes are obviously the reason, If I was a smoker,which im not, I would go all out to stop smoking just to see where they got their pound of flesh from next. Roxanne (Who thinks if your going to do something do all or nothing)

I agree that the main reason it isn't banned is Tax, but I don't think you could get away with a complete ban, smoking is too prevalent in our society, much the same as drinking (just look at the great success that prohibition was in the states... ) I don't think you should deny anyone the right to smoke if they want to, just not in public places - I'm totally behind the decision made last night.

yes i am a smoker, but do agree they should be classed as a drug. They are harmful, addictive which is the same as weed n coke, crack n all the rest xxx

I think the difference is, they take a lot longer to kill you...

As a smoker I agree it should be classed as a drug..... just not today please!! :O)

Not sure where people get the idea they have a 'right' to smoke? I think its very sad that the harmful effects of smoking weren't known about until it had been established as a national pastime - look at films of the 1940s/50s, its puff puff puff all the time. BUT if you class them as a drug, would it be a legal or illegal drug? If illegal, then you'd have to find employment for all the people with jobs in the tobacco industry - and replace lost tax revenues by taxing.....? nell

ive deleted my last posting, maybe it wasnt the best idea to come out about that xx

Nell, They would have to find something else to tax,thats my point! I just find it totally wrong that they wont ban The sale of cigarettes but will make life uncomfortable for those who are addicted. Fact-cigarettes are more addictive than heroin. In my opinion that means they shouldent be sold. Im sure that if all smokers in the country gave up the government would be running around wondering where to put the extra taxes.:-))

Roxanne, would you advocate a ban on alcohol too then ?

paul, Yes!!I would:-))

Perhaps an answer would be to allow smokers to continue buying cigarettes, perhaps by a voucher system or something, but stop the sale of cigarettes otherwise, thus making it impossible for anyone to actually start smoking. But that would only work as long as the young (or not so young!) don't then see cigarettes as a 'forbidden fruit', which would allow a black market cigarette industry to build up. Then we'd end up with illegal cigarette dealers in the same way as we have drug dealers! And of course, it would all cost a fortune to initiate. Bev x

Nicotine patches cost about £17.00 for a weeks supply If you smoke 20 cigs a day, that's £35 a week. It's half the price to be a non-smoker that it is to be a smoker, so I doubt the nhs will be giving out free patches. Tobacco is a very addictive drug and I wish I'd never seen a cigarette in my life............I want one sooooooooooo much sometimes! lol

Meercat You only pay the prescription price for the patches - £6.50 for 4 weeks supply - in a chemist they would cost you £64! I'm on week 7 now and one of the reasons I stopped was because I knew this would happen and I was sick of feeling like a leper! Debby

Debby You get a ruddy bargain there then! I pay the £6.50 prescription charge for only a fortnights worth. Even if you can't get patches on prescription, it's still a darn sight cheaper to buy the patches than fags!

Jeanette Yes it is a bargain I agree and it does depend on which doctor you go to. I suppose it encourages people to stop and they see the savings immediately which gives them a boost to carry on! Debby

I agree with Debby totally. I stopped in October using patches (now off the patches!) because my health was suffering and I felt like a leper. My GP's surgery was more than happy to support me and I only paid the prescription cost. I think it's cheaper for the NHS to do this than the cost of treatingpeople with smoking related illnesses. The ban isn't about targetting individuals and it isn't about peoples 'rights'. It's about the health of the nation, making things better for our children and grandchildren. The ban starts here in Scotland on 26th March and I can't wait. I do not want to be skulking in doorways ashamed of my habit. People who are complaining about it need to bear in mind it's not them talking it's their addiction.

Glad you said that Paul. Alcohol is also a drug and should be banned too! They're always harping on about ciggies, but the only time they go on about alcohol is Christmas (drink-driving). At least ciggies don't make people do murders and mow folk down with a car. They're even allowing pubs to open 24 hrs a day now, so much for deterring folk from drinking!

I am a halfie-halfie smoker meaning that I am attempting to give up. However, I am quite happy about the new ruling about not smoking in public places. I accept that. As for them being a drug andf addictive - yes that too I accept - otherwise it wouldn't be so damned hard to give up. But as for making it an illegal drug and being as bad as heroin then sorry I don't agree. When you compare the two I must ask the question - apart from burglary in general - how many people go out and commit violent crimes, use guns etc. to finance their ciggie craving as against those who do such things to finance their heroin fixes ?

I actually said its more addictive than heroin, And it is! I know it hasent the same stigma attached or the violence, but its a drug the same as alcohol is a drug. more violence is caused through the drinking of alcohol than anything else, yet its 100% legal.

Of course people don't do crime when they can't get their nicotine fix - the point is that in terms of the ADDICTION, nicotine is harder to break than heroin.