Smoking ban a raving success

Interesting results from the UMR omnibus published this morning:

• 81% of all respondents support a complete ban on smoking in restaurants (up 8% since Nov 04), while 17% oppose a complete ban (down 7).
• Among smokers support for the ban was 62% (up 14) and opposition 37% (down 13).
• Females (83%) slightly more likely than males (78%) to support the ban.
• Support for a complete ban in pubs and bars increased to 69% (up 13), while 27% were opposed (down 13).
• Among smokers, support for a complete ban in pubs and bars increased to 42% (up 20), while opposition fell to 55% (down 21).
• Among non-smokers, 75% support a complete ban (up 9), while 20% oppose one (down 9).

Social engineering gone mad? Or a simple step in line with public opinion?

In Wellington it certainly seems to have had little effect on numbers out and about in town. It seems, to me anyway, to make a long night out much more pleasant - you don't have to hang things like suit jackets up to air or get them drycleaned every time you go out any more.

Would hope the numbers continue to move in such a good direction.

Comments

[Gooner]

How about "Smoking ban a flaming success". Sorry!

[Jordan]

A fiery success? ;)

[stephen]

It's very selfish of me, but I am pleased that my backsliding when I have a little too much to drink is pretty much a thing of the past. Without other people lighting up under my nose, I'm no longer tempted to go buy a pack of my own or bludge theirs.

It'll be interesting to see what happens as winter sets in. It's not too onerous to go outside for a fag now, but soon it's going to be COLD.

I'm intrigued by the support from smokers. It ties in with the notion that most smokers would like to give up if they thought they could.

[Whig]

I suspect many smokers like the social aspect of being exiled out into the cold by Ms Chadwick, who loves and cares for them so.

The survey of course is rubbish. Support was highest amongst homemakers, who generally don't go to the pub, and benificiaries, who can't afford to. If they had asked questions about how often people went to pubs and clubs the result would be a lot more interesting.

What you should be worried about is the fact that support was lowest amongst blue collar workers, Wellingtonians and service industry workers (ironically the very people Nanny Chadwick was supposed to be helping). In other words, this policy is least popular amongst those who traditionally lean towards Labour.

[stephen]

"Beneficiaries, who can't afford to".

Mate, you're drinking in the wrong pubs. Or more precisely, maybe they can't afford to, but plenty still do.

I too would be really interested to know about pub/bar/club patronage. Eg: do you go out more, or less? How often do you go out now?

Personally, I was never really put off by smoke, so its absence hasn't had any impact on my decision to go out.

There's raging argument on www.sharetrader.co.nz at the moment on whether Sky City's takings have been affected. Some say they have, as smokers take a break outside (and "bags" their slot machines when they do). Some say it hasn't made a bit of difference. It'll be interesting when they report.

[Kent Brockman]

Would be interesting to see the survey when asking people who actually go to pubs. I bet the evil one doesn't.

[Craig Hall]

While it's a different issue, I used to work in a shop next to a pub on one side, with a WINZ office about 3 shops down on the other side of us. We had a lot of customers who used both...

[Gooner]

Totally unrelated here, but Jordan, I saw Shane Jones on Kim Hill last night. I was very impressed. You have a goodun there. He would easily sit in ACT's team.

[Millsy]

This is a victory for those who value their absolute right to breathe fresh air without the selfish smokers choking them to death.

Let me make this clear. My right to breath fresh air trumps anyones right to smoke, and I will die ensuring that no smoker pumps his crap into the air.

The fact of the matter is that people in this country see poisioning the air as a right. Well, no longer will this be the case.

[Graham watson]

So Jordan if a majority of the country and a significant minority of homosexuals wanted no homosexuality in any hotel, club, boarding house etc this in your logic would be a 'simple step in line with public opinion'.

If a majority of the public wanted reintroduction of the death penalty would this be a step in line with public opinion.

No feeble resort to legitimacy by using some sort of poll will obscure the removal of freedom this legislation represents. I would be most interested to know how those polled would have responded if asked their support for the bar owner choosing, and therefore patrons.

As a reformed smoker I can't stand the smell and would likely go to a nonsmoking bar if a choice existed. This does not mean I support a heavy handed state dictating my choices to others.

[Millsy]

There are times, Mr Watson, when we have to sacrifice our freedoms for the good of humanity. The right to smoke in the bar is a right people need to forgo, if they want the world to be a better place. As I said, poisoning the air is wrong!

[Graham watson]

No Millsy. If we had both smoking and non smoking bars the patrons could decide.

You could choose what air to breathe and allow others to do the same.

As for poisoning the air this logic would only apply assuming cigarettes smoked in bars wouldn't be smoked elsewhere. The current legislation sees smokers outside polluting the air, rather than being processed in air con units. Which pollute the air more?

[Paul]

Graham,

dumb arguments mate.

Facts, Smoking kills - our tax covers their health care, your smoke invades my body etc etc. It's a bollocks habit and if I was lord gold emperor tomorrow, every one of the dirty stinkin buggers would be sent to an island...

As Milsy said, why the hell do you have the right to put stuff in my body I don't want. We made date rape drugs illegal for exactly the same reason. Same reason we don't drive on the side of the road we fell like that day, or we don't allow (unlike Florida) shot first ask later gun laws, public health and safety.

All the same feeble pro smoking ramblings pervaded the Vancouver talk radio stations prior to their introduction of smoke free bars - doom gloom, mass lay offs, bars closing, blah blah boring whiners. The complete OPPOSITE happened, patronage is up, bars are employing more people, and lo a behold smokers can still have a drink, this time not kill people in the process.

Get over it, it's here to stay, no votes in it for anyone (except the ACT me me me party).

Hmm off to have a nice cold pint in fresh air.

Footnote, one nasty freakin consequence of this law is the wall of smoke that you now need to navigate through in 'open space' these days, because the filthy vermin have congregated like gangs outside. Why the hell do I and my 20 month old son now get poisoned walking down the street?

Cheers.

Paul, with another rant, why can't i keep these brief.

[Jordan]

Comparing homosexuality with a choice to smoke is like comparing the National Party with the Nazis. There's no relationship whatsoever. What a strange mind you have, Graham.

[Whig]

I think it's quite pertinent. Perhaps a better analogy would be if you were having a smooch with your partner at the bar. Personally that wouldn't bother me any more than if a straight couple did it, but I imagine a lot of people would be offended. In fact, even more pertinent, it may make them ill or cause heart palpitations.

Do they have "a right" not to be exposed to such "visual pollution"? Of course not. They have complete freedom to go elsewhere and remove themselves from the premises if they don't like it.

What goes on in a bar should be up to the management, not the government.

[Brian S]

"The complete OPPOSITE happened, patronage is up, bars are employing more people, and lo a behold smokers can still have a drink, this time not kill people in the process."

But people are dying. If patronage is up, then more people must be getting drunk and killing themselves and others? So isn't it time we banned drinking in bars?

[Paul]

Seems that you only go to bars where people get stonkered and die Brian.

I managed to find plenty of bars in Vancouver, and funny enough here in NZ, where people were drinking, talking, dancing and eating.

Here's a plan, lets ban fun.

[Susan R]

In my view the issue of smoking bans in public places still remains. Smokers assert that businesses should have the right to choose whether or not they allow smoking.
Without any doubt, smoking is bad for you and so is second hand smoke.

[Amber]

Susan

I disagree with you please read the artical again

[david]

What annoys me is seeing fat people in a bakery buying meat pies and doughnuts. Dont they know thats going to kill them and put a huge strain on our health resources later on. It is also setting a very bad example to my 20 mnth old son. Quelle horreur! He could end up liking white bread. The government must legislate as quickly as possible to prevent these people doing this. Oh, whats that you say? Oh, its a thyroid condition. Anyway Jordan, whats with all the viagra links? Is it because you are such a softcock?

[Jordan]

The perils of spam. And why don't we leave my anatomy out of this, Mars boy?

[david]

Fair enough, it was just such an easy shot to take.You have to laugh.

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