Smokers' Rights
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Who Ever Thinks About the Rights of Smokers?
This is above all a work dedicated to freedom, human rights and reasonable civil liberties. It is a work dedicated to a group of people - millions strong - who have shouldered a wholly disproportionate and grossly unfair tax burden for many years. It is dedicated to those people who now find themselves virtually ostracised from society simply because of a habit they have - in many instances - practised perfectly legally for decades...
List of Content
A brief guide to what you will find on this site
The Bavarian Solution
Surely this is fair to all parties concerned?
The smoking ban in all enclosed public places and buildings came into effect in Germany on 1st January 2008. At that time, a group of Bavarian pub/bar owners - some 2,700 strong - were permitted to sign up to a scheme whereby they could continue to permit smoking in their premises but only serve patrons in possession of a special "licence." In order to obtain such a licence, individuals have to complete an application form and pay an annual fee of 12 Euros. They are subsequently issued with a membership card for the scheme. Only people in possession of such a card are permitted to frequent the subscribed establishments.I suppose in a sense it is quite a risk for a proprietor to take in becoming part of this venture as he or she is of course denying themselves a considerable part of their potential customer base. Probably for this reason, my research has revealed that member establishments tend to be in suburban or outlying areas where the landlord knows his customers and what the majority of them want.
If you are familiar with the German language (Deutsche), click here to visit the scheme's home page and find more information.
Smokers of the World Unite!
Display your sense of injustice!
Wear your grievance for all to see; display it on your wall or your coffee-mug at work; send it as part of your postal communications! Click here to visit the online store that provides a fantastic range of items at knockdown prices to draw attention to the plight of smokers worldwide. Shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, posters and lots, lots more quality items at unbeatable prices! My Experiences under The Smoking Ban
How has it affected me personally?
I should perhaps begin here by pointing out that I am in the process of attempting to give up smoking but this does not detract my attention from the issues discussed on this site. The reasons for my stopping smoking are numerous but in no way relate to governmental legislation!The morning of Sunday 24th March 2006 (the date that the ban was introduced in Scotland) saw me staying away for the weekend with a group of friends in a rural hotel. The weather on the previous two days had been reasonable but when I woke up on the Sunday morning, hungover and desperately in need of a cigarette before breakfast, the rain was bouncing several feet off the pavements! I was the only smoker in our party and it was to the warped amusement of my friends that I was forced to brave the elements in order to feed my habit. Incredibly, to make matters worse, I was unable to find anything resembling shelter around the entire perimeter of the hotel and received a thorough soaking!
How Can I Make A Difference?
What can I do to promote the rights and interests of smokers?
Click here to find out how to go about contacting your United Kingdom MP.
Click here to find out how to go about contacting your United States' Congressman/woman.
Click here to find out how to go about contacting your Canadian MP.
Click here to find out how to go about contacting your relevant Australian Representative.
Click here to find out how to go about contacting your New Zealand MP.
My apologies if I have not provided a pointer as to how to go about contacting your local representative in the particular country in which you reside. I hope you will understand that it is not possible here to provide an exhaustive list.
Finally, please take into account that even if the prejudice against smokers is not as intense in your part of the world as it has become in the United Kingdom...how much longer is that guaranteed to be the case?
The Human Rights of Smokers
Organisations dedicated to championing same
- FOREST Online Home Page
- A haven for smokers and non-smokers who believe in freedom of choice, market forces, and commercial freedom of speech
- The Smokers Club, Inc.
- The United Pro Choice Smokers Rights Newsletter
- Smoking Lobby Forum for Smokers Rights and Smoking Bans
- Smoking Lobby is an online forum advocating smokers rights to smoke and fight smoking bans worldwide.
Should Greater Provision be made for Smokers?
I have no doubt that feelings will run very high on this issue and that opinions will be extremely varied. Why not give us yours below and I will feature as many of the best ones here as possible.
simpsonia says:
It's a fact, the most interesting, charming and witty people are smokers. It's because they're not there anymore that pubs are more boring and half empty!!! Next it will be a fat tax ...
bee-star says:
I think a good point to make is that if smokers were all to suddenly give up and did what the government want, then where do you think they're going to look to make up for all that lost revenue?
All these arrogant non smokers need to realise that the government would most likely increase income tax. Meaning they would lose out financially but the smokers would be used to spending fortunes on cigarettes and would probably be better off overall.
So to sum it up they're all fighting to make smokers richer than them.... and the governments even poorer, increasing national debts then shutting down countless NHS hospitals stating there's no need for them cuz no one smokes!
Doesn't sound like a better world to me????
Pat says:
The problem, in a nutshell, is that the masses have been literally brainwashed into believing that a few minuscule whiffs of tobacco smoke are "deadly." This is ridiculous and defies logic and common sense. Even more absurd is the belief that tobacco smoke has the ability to pass through solid walls . Smoking bans hold as much logic as evacuating entire cities every time a building catches on fire.
As for the chemicals in tobacco smoke, they are there, but in amounts so tiny that they have to be measured in parts per million. For instance, there is more arsenic in a single glass of tap water than in the smoke from 500 lit cigarettes! The anecdotal evidence of tens of millions of Baby Boomers and older generations that grew up around smoke 24/7/365 and remain healthy today easily trumps the hysterical claims of the anti-tobacco fanatics.
MyKiC says:
@palmyspolier, it's no ones fault you started smoking except your own. Grow up and take responsibility. You knew underage smoking was bad and made a decision to smoke anyway--which makes your addiction your own fault. @TheTikiGirl, not every non smoker tries to get smokers to quit. In fact most non smokers don't care either way what you choose to do in your free time. The problem lies somewhere between the thin line of you choosing to smoke and giving me second-hand smoke. Or polluting the air you as well as others have to share with the foul scent of nicotine. So before you go and slander a group of people (non smokers) do your research, and then think outside of the cigarette.
palmyspoiler@yahoo.com.au says:
i am a 38yo smoker i started at a very young age(10yo) , As a miner it was not my falt i stated to smoke as the goverment sould of enforced there under 18yo laws. i used to buy them cheap with my lunch money. now im paying the price and the govement wont help me they just want to tax the crap out of us and then not let us be social at pubs and clubs. smokers have paid the taxes for all others and then you get people saying that im a filthy smoker...un just i would say.. we need to all rise up and get our rights back. FUCK AUSTRALIA GOVERMENT.
Cindy says:
I'm having a hard time with this ban. As I love the thought of not stepping through the mount of butts that litter the city, I might add with those tim's cups. But for this conversation "smokes" are the topic. Eating with the smell over taking my senses and the lack of respect for the non-smokers. Or the dance floors back in the day, how many burns did people receive?, you know the respect factor with some smokers. Not too mention the health concerns! BUT I really struggle with others rights. I hate even the thought of that, but they sell it and then said go hide? And the fine, up to $300.00 really? I would love to see all smokers quit. But what is the cost to our basic rights. Our rights, are slowly being stripped piece by piece. Like the bill that invades our privacy on here. All in the name of fighting crime? I don't want to taste, smell or breathe in all the garbage in a cig. But I worry about the disappearance of our very basic rights. How far will we go in the name of health, crime fighting etc? So, I remain on the fence.
greivas says:
In response to xyz, We were stuck in little cabins, it was called a pub, now we cant even go there. I agree with you that it is foul smelling, but so is farting. There has to be happy medium where smokers can get on with thier lives without the hassle of being ostricesed and penalised by these huge taxes that are regularly placed on Tobacco products, For what reason, to reduce the amount of people smoking, all it does for me is reduce my shopping list because i wont be forced to stop because some government official thinks it is right.
xyz says:
Absolutely not - they blow into my face what I do not want to breathe and everyone has a right to free, unpolluted air. Even if (and this is not the case), they were blowing into my face something that did not endanger me, simply that I do not want to be inhaling it is enough reason for me not to be forced to. They ought to be locked up in little cabins when they can blow their shit into one another's faces without annoying everyone else in public.
TheTikiGirl says:
I think that there can be a happy medium. That is if non smokers will stop trying to make smokers quit smoker just because they don't smoke. Smokers can smoke electronic cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes do not contain, tobacco, tar, carcinogens or any of the other harmful additives that are in tobacco based cigarettes. Best of all they do not produce any secondhand smoke. You can find a reasonably priced electronic cigarette kit at http://www.Sherlocksden.com.
Electronic cigarettes provides the smoker with a healthier more responsible way to enjoy a cigarette. The smoker can still get their nicotine fix without the harsh smell of tobacco. They can also blow smoke which is in the form of a harmless water vapor. They come in a variety of flavors with Marlboro and Menthol being the most popular flavors. Nicotine levels are high, medium, low and no nicotine. The smoker will also save approximately 80% of the money that they are currently spending on tobacco cigarettes. I am paying my car note and car insurance with the money I am saving by smoking an electronic cigarette and then some.
You can get an electronic cigarette kit with prices starting at $20.00 by going to http://www.Sherlocksden.com. They are currently offering 15% off any purchase until 7/31/11. I urge you to try an electronic cigarette and pass this information along to the smokers in your life. This link can save money and lives.
MoonandMagic says:
I think people have the right to decide what they want to do and not be ostracised for it. I think it's appalling that people would not employ somebody just because they smoked, being able to make a decision or act with confidence has nothing to do with smoking.
I can't see the voting option so I'm not sure what the question is but I think smokers should be entitled to smoke in designated areas that are sufficiently equipped with shelter / heating (if necessary) and non-smokers should be allowed to eat junk or drink or watch hours of tv.
Blog Posts from Google on The Smoking Bans
What others have to say...in favour, of or against!
- Smoking Ban in full effect
- Suzanne Brown, a server at Mass Avenue Pub, says she doesn't expect business to suffer because of the smoking ban. ?I don't think we'll lose customers. We have lots of loyal customers who will come back all the time,? Brown said.
- NYS Parks Dept. suspends smoking ban after challenge by smokers' rights group
- By Press Release Acknowledging that it acted without regard for an opposing view in rushing through a smoking ban in state parks, pools, beaches and historic sites, the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has suspended the ban it ...
- Smoking ban approved at Missoula County Fairgrounds to protect old buildings ...
- A structure fire last year has prompted Missoula's Board of County Commissioners to ban smoking except in designated areas during all public events at the Missoula County Fairgrounds. Fairgrounds Manager Steve Earle tells the Missoulian ...
- Lafayette forum to examine banning smoking
- (AP) ? A public forum has been scheduled to discuss the pros and cons of a ban on smoking in bars in Lafayette. The Advocate reports ( ) that the June 12 forum is being organized by City-Parish Councilman Kenneth Boudreaux.
What Advice is Available to me if I Want to Stop Smoking?
- Stop smoking start living - Home
- This website contains detailed information about the free NHS support services, and videos from real quitters talking about what worked for them. You can find out about all of the options and make the right choice for you.
- Tips To Help You Stop Smoking
- Stopping smoking is not easy. This site contains many tips which may help you to stop smoking.
- QUIT: The UK Charity that helps people give up smoking - 0800 00 22 00
- QUIT is the UK's national charity that helps people give up smoking.
- Quit Smoking | OSH | CDC
- Advice from Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Quit smoking helplines, charities and organisations in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
- A list of major English-speaking charities, helplines and organisations for people who want to give up smoking and need further help or advice from around the world.
So You've Decided You Want to Quit Smoking...
How do you go about it?
There are an infinite number of potions, pills and remedies available to buy either in shops/stores or online claiming to help people stop smoking. Ask any smoker, however, what their biggest barrier is to quitting and a great many will tell you that overcoming the habit and the desire to smoke is a far greater problem than the physical addiction.That is why this revolutionary new e-book - which tackles the desire to smoke - could be the answer to many people's dreams. Click here for more information...
Vote now!!!
What did you think of this site?
This is where you can have your say
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If you have anything to add to this site which has not been covered above, please feel free to include it in the space below.
Thank you for your time and your visit.
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Tiggered
Apr 1, 2012 @ 7:14 pm | delete
- It's good to see pages like yours.
Once we allow people to trespass on our liberty for the 'right' reasons, we move a step closer to the moment when they will do that for any reason at all.
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greivas
Mar 23, 2012 @ 6:46 pm | delete
- Thanks for the info, we as smokers need to unite internationally, it happening all over the world. The taxes in NZ are pretty high too. Price of smokes go up every year by about 2 to 3 dollers
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esvoytko
Feb 24, 2012 @ 7:58 pm | delete
- Thanks for the info about the "Bavarian solution." I didn't know about that. Doubt it could work in the U.S. though.
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Chey1997
Feb 8, 2012 @ 4:03 am | delete
- Here in America Smokers pay more taxes then most folks and weather that be by choice or not you can't milk us for every penny you can get then tell us we can't enjoy they very product your milking money from us for.....
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mauros34
Nov 25, 2011 @ 3:44 am | delete
- Opinions from smokers that want to stop smoking as of the smoking ban will help out in them somehow having a reason to stop but actually is under our own will that we smoke dont smoke or want to stop smoking...Everyone has the will and everyone has human rights a middle way is somewhat difficult.
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by Gordon_Hamilton
My name is Gordon and I live in the United Kingdom.
I am aware of course that this is an extremely contentious - even if topical - subject. I hope it...
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