Smoking & choking
The great David Hockney speaks out against banning smoking in public (enclosed) places. Now, whereas I've nothing against the man, or indeed his work, I hardly think that the fact that someone can paint pretty pictures qualifies him to appear on National TV as an authority on current legal issues.
Also, his argument is: yes smoking is dangerous, but no more than alcohol (a statement I have heard many, many times in local pubs), and that the evidence we are currently being bombarded with about alcohol leading to various terminal illnesses & violent, sexual & abusive crimes proves this. However, surely that argument just means we should ban alcohol too?
Considering the law he is moaning about specifically bans smoking in any enclosed area that encourages families or serves food, his argument is spurious as he is welcome to continue smoking his way to lung cancer while drinking himself towards liver sirrosis in any pub in th country.
As a parent, I'm all for the ban. As an ex-smoker who gave up using will-power alone I get to be as intolerant as I like. As an educated person, I am able to read the law & have informed discussions about the likey impact of the changes. Unlike David Hockney, I don't go on national TV & talk about "our choice as adults". We have the choice to take individual risks, not social ones. Hence cliff jumping is legal, but heroine is illegal.
Also, his argument is: yes smoking is dangerous, but no more than alcohol (a statement I have heard many, many times in local pubs), and that the evidence we are currently being bombarded with about alcohol leading to various terminal illnesses & violent, sexual & abusive crimes proves this. However, surely that argument just means we should ban alcohol too?
Considering the law he is moaning about specifically bans smoking in any enclosed area that encourages families or serves food, his argument is spurious as he is welcome to continue smoking his way to lung cancer while drinking himself towards liver sirrosis in any pub in th country.
As a parent, I'm all for the ban. As an ex-smoker who gave up using will-power alone I get to be as intolerant as I like. As an educated person, I am able to read the law & have informed discussions about the likey impact of the changes. Unlike David Hockney, I don't go on national TV & talk about "our choice as adults". We have the choice to take individual risks, not social ones. Hence cliff jumping is legal, but heroine is illegal.
posted by Juggling Mother @ 7:18 am
7 Comments:
At Wednesday, September 28, 2005 12:11:00 pm,
craziequeen said…
They tried to implement a total ban on smoking at our work (so no smoking outside or even in the car parks).
Although I applaud the thinking behind it, I thought it rather a draconian measure.
I gently suggested that if they plan to ban smoking, they should also shut the site bar, as I objected to people slugging back alcohol then breathing fumes over my desk, not to mention juggling budgets with a few malts inside - or even worse, drinking at lunchtime then driving home.
Oddly - the total ban did not go ahead (funny, that!). We now have nice smoking shelters (that look like bus shelters) and most smokers are being considerate.
Of course, because of the rebel few - the axe remains over our head.
But I will continue to use the site bar as a bargaining tool.
CQ
At Wednesday, September 28, 2005 2:36:00 pm,
Juggling Mother said…
Ahh, but David Hockney's argument was exactly that. He said that alcohol affects everyone else in the vicinity as it causes violent & abusive behaviour, a lack of morals, ethics & social responsibility & a loss of control over bodily functions (sounds nice huh!).
Therefore, if we ban smoking we should ban alcohol says he.
Bravo, says I. Lets ban both.
That should put the proverbial cat amongst the pigeons:-)
At Wednesday, September 28, 2005 3:18:00 pm,
Aginoth said…
In addition...Smoking anywhere near a child, in an enclosed or open space or a private home should be a criminal offence with sentences akin to assault or reckless endangerment.
Not sure on the banning of alcohol though, but would be in favour of a raising of the legal drinking age to 21.
At Wednesday, September 28, 2005 3:18:00 pm,
Aginoth said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
At Wednesday, September 28, 2005 7:07:00 pm,
Juggling Mother said…
Honestly, I'm not adverse t the occasional drink (or indeed against anyone having the occasional smoke). However, when it affects the rest of society, we need to address the issue.
I would make it properly illegal to be drunk in public (I know it is theoretically illegal, but when has anyone ever got more than a verbal warning & a night in the cells?).
At Friday, September 30, 2005 9:56:00 pm,
Juggling Mother said…
CQ, when I was the boss, not only did make it a sacking offence to smoke anywhere on site, or within sight of the building, or during their shift, but also wrote into their contract that they could not smoke for a minimum of 30 mins before starting work!
All my girls smoked, and all of them accepted the restrictions & kept to them.
Of course, we were working in the health industry, but all the same, it can be done.
At Friday, September 26, 2008 12:27:00 pm,
Anonymous said…
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