Haven't patients suffered enough without this hospital smoking ban?

Ian O'Doherty: Haven't patients suffered enough without this hospital smoking ban? - Ian O'Doherty, Columnists - Independent.ie:

Before he died, my father spent a few years in and out of James's Hospital.

He used to say that the worst thing was the boredom, the endless tedium punctuated only by the ticking of the clock in his ward that used to drive him mad.

A voracious reader, he admitted that there are only so many books you can read in one day and while his body was failing, his mind was, on the whole, still active -- and that's where the ciggie break came in.

He admitted to me on one occasion that going for a smoke was the highlight of his day -- not for the hit of the tobacco but because for him and all the other long-term patients, going for a smoke was a social occasion, a chance to get out of the bed, get out of the ward and have a chat and a fag with some of the others and, to be honest, I could completely see where he was coming from.

Because when my Da and his fellow incumbents met up for a smoke, they were no longer just patients with a numbered bracelet on their wrist, they were men again, individuals in their own right.

Such a satisfying read.
My crappy blogging will never do it justice but it should be read.
The writer touches on such a striking note,this thing we all forget smoker's are people too.
No matter what the anti's say or how they try to spin it,we all of us are people still and deserve some compassion and we deserve to have our dignity intact when we are ill.
Being well isn't just what we or eat or drink or smoke or don't smoke do our mindset has a whole lot to do with it as well.

Ban has no effect on smokers - The Irish Times -

Ban has no effect on smokers - The Irish Times - Wed, Oct 19, 2011:

The smoking ban was introduced in March 2004 by then minister for health Micheál Martin. Its aim was to protect people from second-hand smoke but it had also been hoped that the ban would provide an incentive to help smokers quit.

This has not proven to be the case.

“We really haven’t shifted prevalence of smoking by any appreciable extent beyond what it was prior to the implementation of the ban; we are at about 28 to 30 per cent,” Dr Holohan said.

And of course that isn't the only message that's being spread.

 He also said there was a need to look at the inter-relationship between different lifestyle factors, including tobacco use, alcohol consumption and obesity, and their effects on health.

“People who smoke just don’t smoke, they are also people who are overweight and they are also people who are high consumers of alcohol and we need to understand the interaction of those,” Dr Holohan said.

There was no point in sending out messages about tobacco one day, alcohol the next and obesity on the third day. “We need a much more integrated positive message in relation to health.

“It shouldn’t always be about ‘don’t do this’ and ‘don’t do that’.”

Sounds all well and good,well from their viewpoint in any case. But the thing smokers always told the other people who supported the banning of smoking in public places has come to pass.

They are coming for all of us,it makes me wonder how long before the cacophony of angry voices being raised calling for bans to be repealed won't just be from the smokers.

Because now the people who dislike the overweight and the people who dislike smokers have decided to join forces.

Dr Holohan also raised concerns about the marketing of food and unhealthy products to children.

How long before they join with the greenies and the clean air people.One wonders what sort of focus they would spread with the sort of money and backing that would supply.

That damn slope keeps getting slipperier every single day.

Wales needs 20,000 smokers a year to quit to meet ambitious targets

Wales needs 20,000 smokers a year to quit to meet ambitious targets - Wales News - News - WalesOnline:

WALES needs to persuade 20,000 smokers a year to quit if it is to meet an ambitious target to slash smoking rates.

The Welsh Government wants to cut the number of adult smokers from the current 23% to just 16% by 2020.

But there are concerns about whether Wales’ smoking cessation services can help such numbers tackle their addictions.

The number of adults smoking has fallen only slightly in the last seven years, from 26% in 2004, despite the introduction of the ban on smoking in public places.

This doesn't make sense when you figure in the economic losses from tobacco taxes.
I can't pretend to be well versed enough in this to spout statistics and numbers but every smoker that quits costs the government something.
I'm frankly always surprised that this topic keeps rearing it's ugly head.

I'm not even sure exactly what sort of economic number juggling has shown a positive outcome for governments attempting to stamp out smoking on a huge basis but I wouldn't believe the outcome has changed much from the first time I read this.

"A $1 increase in cigarette excise taxes could affect an
estimated 74,700 to 96,800 jobs"

A nifty little report from the United States own general accounting office came up with that number.
I have tried to figure out what the losses on a worldwide scale would be today but math isn't my strong suit.

Mount Airy News - Museum hosts lecture on tobacco and culture

Mount Airy News - Museum hosts lecture on tobacco and culture:

“Tobacco was the backbone, not just of the economy, but of culture and society,” he remarked.

Yeargin also talked about different types of tobacco and techniques that were developed over the years. He then spoke about the tobacco industry in Surry County and what it still means today. According to Yeargin, there were 21 plants for tobacco production in Surry County in 1893, and that grew to 45 in 1927, which employed 2,875 people here.

An article that didn't upset me for once.
I enjoyed every word. :)

OUDaily.com | OU law student, presidential candidate opposes smoking ban

OUDaily.com | OU law student, presidential candidate opposes smoking ban:

“[Let’s say] you don’t smoke. What happens when the government takes away one of the liberties that you do enjoy?” Harris asked. “Are you going to ask people to stand up for you while you remained silent when others were tyrannized?”Harris said he has been trying to work with the OU chapter of the Young Americans for Liberty organization to fight the ban. Caleb Groves, a member of the OU group, said he shares many of Harris’ values.
Groves, international and area studies junior, said he worked for Harris during his U.S. congressional campaign and has decided to volunteer for him once again now that he is running for president.
“Since we are a brand new organization there hasn’t been much for RJ and me to do, but he is going to be attending our meetings, and he will be the guest speaker for our meeting this Friday,” Groves said.
Spurred by smoking’s legality and big government, Groves said his group is hoping to stage a protest on the South Oval.

I really did like this, although I didn't agree with everything in it.
But for me someone calling the loss of liberty to people's attention is welcome and sorely needed.
I wish more people were like this kid,then maybe this mess we have now wouldn't be such a total cluster.

Should smoking be prohibited in Kirkland parks?

Should smoking be prohibited in Kirkland parks? - Kirkland Reporter:

An online survey will be available through Oct. 28 that gauges public interest in whether the city should enact legislation that would prohibit the use of smoke and smokeless tobacco in city owned and maintained parks, open space, and other public recreation areas.
To take the survey, go to www.kirklandwa.gov/tobaccosurvey.

I think it's odd to put up a survey to ask people what they think about it,that in itself is unusual but  I'm more than a little bit skeptical that the results will be used to truthfully promote the will of the people.

This link shows what the survey looks like
link

I'm more than a little surprised they ask if you are a smoker though,you would think that wouldn't matter.

Flames fanned by smoke ban - Local - Blackpool Gazette

Flames fanned by smoke ban - Local - Blackpool Gazette:

A BAN on smoking outdoors has prompted anger.

Blackpool Council has put signs up outside the Solaris centre on South Promenade to say smoking is prohibited in all areas of the site including the grounds.

Smoking rights campaigner Hamish Howitt has branded the move a step too far and warned people could also be banned from lighting up in other public areas in future.

He said: “The smoking ban has already killed off the pub trade. If it spreads to open spaces it will kill off tourism in a working class place like Blackpool.

“If the council is banning smoking outside, it might as well ban cars and lorries because the damage from traffic fumes is much greater.”

Oh good an outdoor smoking ban.
I don't live in Blackpool obviously but this infuriates me.
If you can't smoke outdoors and you can't smoke indoors then where in the hell can you smoke?
If something is legal then why go to all of this trouble to ostracize and demoralize the smokers?

I think the anti's knew something we didn't.
They knew with all the sureness in the world that if they made us baby killers and made us the bogiemen that society would surely shun us.
If their shameful practice didn't work they made sure their propaganda and junk science surely would.
I assume they thought with enough pressure and enough hatred we would stop and some have (convinced by science that is woefully lacking and painful to read if you have a halfway analytical mind and a halfwits understanding of causation and effect and how one proves such a thing) but many have not.

I find it sad that people didn't know with the success of the anti-smoking brigade that more stuff would be coming down the pike for them.
Welcome to the world where people tax fats to change behavior.
After alcohol ,salt and cars I wonder what's next.