A new law came into effect yesterday in Ireland banning smoking in the workplace.

Most offices already had no smoking policies, but this law means that smoking is now prohibited in restaurants, bars, coffee shops, train stations, hospitals (?) etc. The only exceptions are prisons and hotel rooms.

Good things about this law :
It makes enclosed social venues healthier for all.
It makes it much more difficult for smokers (like myself) to smoke, helping us to cut down.

Really bloody stupid things about this law :
If I'm at home I can smoke to my heart's content (fair enough, cos it's my house), but if I am working from home (which I quite often do) I am not allowed to smoke! (I think I may just have to become a crim and break the law).
People with company cars can no longer smoke in them.
Truck drivers can no longer smoke in their trucks.
And this is my favourite - Construction workers can smoke in the buildings they're putting up - until the roof goes on and then they can't.

As I'm a smoker I enjoy a cigarrette with my drink, or after a meal in a restaurant etc. However, the majority of the population are not smokers, it's probably about time they were represented on this issue. This is only day 2 of the new law, and I've got a headache from all the people around me moaning about it. It's not as if we didn't know it was coming.

Anyone else live in a no-smoking zone ? Any comments, good or bad ?



Holland, be prepared - you're next!

i hate cigarrettes, they make me physically sick, so i'm all for smoking bans because they make the life easier. i do think it's strange that you can't smoke in your house when you're working from home. that seems a bit much.

jessyMD32781 said:

Yep, it could only happen in Ireland. Mind you, I'd like to see them try enforce that one:
"Are you smoking?"
"Yes"
"Are you working"
"No."
"Oh, OK then.".....

Well I think it's great news. I can finally go for a pint and not have my clothes stinking afterwards. Hooray!

The next logical step is to round all the smokers up into Croke Park and then nuke it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure. Alternatively we can use their corpses as landfill out near East Point.

Fuck smokers, inconsiderate bastards!

ian said:

I am a smoker, and a very considerate one at that...

ian said:

You mean apart from the smell of vomit and kebab juice.

sag10 said:

Too late, I've already issued my decree

doctormcmeekle said:

McMeekle is a doctor now? I want to see your medical degree before I allow you to do any more surgery on me, damn you.

ian said:

I'll show you mine if you show me yours.



Wait, that didn't come out right.

I agree that smokers are being treated like second class citizens these days though for the benefit of everybody. The dangers of cigarette smoking are no secret and we all know that they contain 42 cancer causing chemicals including arsenic. Everyone will benefit from this, non-smokers and smokers too. It will just take some getting used to, eventually smoking will be banned from all public establishments alike. I'm in the process of quitting and it definately ain't easy, it's a huge sacrifice but my health is more important then having a smoko break that forms from habit alone.

PanthaGirl said:

I am also trying to quit.....but i promised that when i fall in love i will quit.....

ian said:

omg, that´s brutal!! but I agree

In my city they banned smoking in public places and restaurants. A lot of restaurants went out of business because of the city council bylaw. No one squaks anymore.

I gave up smoking today. Yeah, I know its kinda good but I have mixed feelings. Im a bit apprehensive that I haven't smoked my last. Im just going to use will power.

PusherMan said:

Great Stuff PusherMan...

JDINTERACTIVE said:

Good for you JD lad, you go for it son.

May be after quitting and getting all healthy and shit, they may let you play for

WEST HAM UTD!

63points aint a sure thing for the play offs... tut tut.... are you boys gonna make it!

The Titanic comes to mind

What if I have sex at work...am I still allowed to have a smoke then?

Oh lawd....

althom said:

Let's face it people, as difficult as it may be....


SMOKING IS BAD FOR US and we KNOW it.


We should all quit, or live a short life and die from the horrendous, ravaging effects of lung cancer. PERIOD.


I hate it as much as anyone, but this is fact.


I wish I'd never started.

I'm sick of the government sitting the fence on smoking. Either ban cigarettes or leave smokers alone. This whole concept of exploiting people who are addicted to cigarettes for money is bullshit. That makes our government no better than the cigarette companies themselves.

If people are going to support this, then smokers and nonsmokers should suffer the consequences equally.

Saying you don't want to smell cigarette smoke, but you still want to collect billions of dollars from smokers each year is like wanting to have your cake and eat it to.