SMOKING BAN
As a 67 year old non-smoker,
(never-smoked, other than at secondary school !), I have not been too
concerned with the smoking ban - however, I SHOULD HAVE BEEN.
Though a non-smoker myself, smoking
does not bother me - providing that the smoker does not hold the
cigarette away from his / herself and allows the smoke to drift
directly into my face !
Indeed, as a regular pub & club
visitor, I feel that the atmosphere has diminished in most
establishments as a result of the ban. Remember that many
older pubs had a 'Smoke Room' - titled as such - usually on a
frosted glass door panel.
Obviously most, if not all, would
support the smoking ban in areas where food is consumed
Smokers & Non-Smokers - Please Sign this
No10 petition
Then, please email
this petition to your address book contacts:
www.melashton.co.uk/smoking
Highlight (mouseover), then right click and Copy these 4 lines and
paste
into
this email.
The petition reads:
We the undersigned petition
the Prime Minister to amend the smoking ban to allow
a limited number of smoking licenses to be obtained
by owners of pubs, restaurants and clubs from their
local council. (a link to more information is
available on the petition web page)
Submitted by
Bill Hayes – Deadline to sign up by:
23 October 2008
|
Signatures |
Date |
Approx Increase
/ Day |
|
4,796 |
6th
July, 2008 |
11
We must do better
! |
|
4,049 |
30th
April, 2008 |
14 |
|
3,731 |
8th
April, 2008 |
18 |
|
3,569 |
30th
March, 2008 |
25
Please tell
everyone !! |
|
3,395 |
23rd
March, 2008 |
31 (Easter) |
|
3,209 |
17th
March, 2008 |
34 |
|
3,175 |
14th
March, 2008 |
24 |
|
2,739 |
25th February,
2008 |
|
Melvin Ashton, (Outwood, Wakefield,
Yorkshire), 25th February, 2008
Email:
mel@melashton.co.uk
Web:
www.melashton.co.uk
THIS PAGE:
www.melashton.co.uk/smoking
More Information
(from the petition creator)
And yet
more information !
Typical responses from a
quick web search:
Petitions are a formal written request to
Parliament that can be presented formerly by an MP.
A petition from 93 customers of the Swan Hotel in
Bacup, Rossendale, “declares that the smoking ban is having an
adverse effect on the social structure and enjoyment within their
local pub; they consider it a valuable asset within the local
community.
“The Petitioners therefore request that the House
of Commons urges the Government to introduce amending legislation to
provide for the landlord of the Swan Hotel placing a sign on his
door depicting the pub as a ‘smoking establishment’ giving customers
the right to choose whether to enter or not.”
The Petition was presented by local Labour MP
Janet Anderson, who said: “The Swan hotel regulars tell me that
since the ban was introduced at least a good third of their social
friends have stopped coming as a direct result, and the social
atmosphere in the pub has drastically diminished.
“Smokers and non-smokers alike are finding that
the ban serves no purpose whatever, other than nibbling away at the
social cohesion that has taken many years to evolve.”
Terry Egan, freehold licensee of the Swan Hotel,
said: “The smoking ban has had a disastrous effect on trade. I
would say our takings are down by at least 40%.
“It has totally effected the community and the
pub. Customers are reluctant to come down and stand outside.
“I really don’t see why they couldn’t have had the
option of allowing smoking so long as we said outside that this is a
smoking outlet and we would give the public the option.
“It’s ridiculous. This is supposed to be a
democracy. It’s more like a dictatorship.”
Single-room pubs in a German state will be able
to ignore the smoking ban, a court has ruled.
The Constitutional Court of Rhineland-Palatinate
ruled in favour of a group of bar owners who claimed they would go
out of business when the ban comes into effect on 15 February.
The ban in Rhineland-Palatinate allows smoking
areas that are closed off but five one-room bar owners claimed they
were being discriminated against because they could not create a
smoking area, according to Bloomberg.
The court accepted that 80% of their customers
were smokers and they would lose business but rejected a complaint
from a smoker that the ban impinges on his personal liberty.
The bars will now be allowed to put up a sign
declaring themselves a smoking venue until a final ruling is made.
Pro-Smoking Website (with link to
YouTube Movie)
Mel's Home Page