Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Smoking ban for people born after 2008 in the UK agreed

bbc.co.uk

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

401–410 of 430 posts

Re: Smoking ban for people born after 2008 in the UK agreed

#401

Post by tim333 »

ramblerman wrote: post #380
gcanyon wrote: post #16

There are two separate issues here: 1. will this work (will the UK stop smoking) 2. is this something the UK government should be doing Setting aside 1 and looking at 2, it seems silly to me to point out that other things (alcohol) that cause problems and are not being restricted. You take the wins where you find them, and the government isn't a magical force that can impose its will on the people arbitrarily. This i…

> The UK doesn't support cigarettes, so the law gets passed. If someone has a public opinion poll there showing less than 50% support for this, I'd love to see it. Isn't the impetus on the makers of this bill to show there is more than 50% support for this. I'm not a fan of smoking but this isn't the governments job imo. Not to mention the odd precedent of do what I say not as I do, with different laws for different…

The Yougov poll I found has:

>Would you support or oppose a law banning anyone born after 2008 from ever buying cigarettes or tobacco products?

>Strongly support 34% Somewhat support 23%

>Somewhat oppose 16% Strongly oppose 12% (https://yougov.com/en-gb/daily-results/20221214-abbaa-1)

I'm a non smoking Brit and figure maybe give it a go and see how it goes down?

Perhaps let young people who deeply want to smoke apply for some sort of smoking pass? You could do similar for other problem drugs too maybe. A lot of addictive drugs don't do much harm if prescribed - the NHS gave some fentanyl to help chill out which was good - but having illegal dealers causes no end of problems.

Re: Smoking ban for people born after 2008 in the UK agreed

#402

Post by dranudin »

plqbfbv wrote: post #72
alsetmusic wrote: post #33

As a former smoker (who quit for seven years and regrets taking it up again), and as a present-day vape user, wtf. This is a clear restriction on liberty. It may be stupid that I do it. Just like many stupid decisions (junk food included), it ought to be my right to decide how to live. Cut off production so cigarettes are no longer made or imported. Don't block me from them while letting others have them. (Not in UK)…

> This is a clear restriction on liberty. ... Just like many stupid decisions (junk food included), it ought to be my right to decide how to live. I guess that liberty was plenty abused on every non-smoker in a non-smoking area, that ended up coughing in clouds of smoke anyway. Smoking affects everyone around you whether you want it or not, and while you may smoke for 50 years and end up being perfectly healthy, some…

However, people born before 2008 smoking around you, affects you, as well. If they want to protect people they need to ban it for everybody..

Re: Smoking ban for people born after 2008 in the UK agreed

#403

Post by plqbfbv »

rcxdude wrote: post #213
plqbfbv wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This is a clear restriction on liberty. ... Just like many stupid decisions (junk food included), it ought to be my right to decide how to live. I guess that liberty was plenty abused on every non-smoker in a non-smoking area, that ended up coughing in clouds of smoke anyway. Smoking affects everyone around you whether you want it or not, and while you may smoke for 50 years and end up being perfectly healthy, some…

There's already some pretty comprehensive bans on smoking in places where it could affect other people. I don't really encounter cigarette smoke in my day-to-day life.

> There's already some pretty comprehensive bans on smoking in places where it could affect other people.

Which I'm arguing are disregarded most of the times by most smokers. I do encounter cigarette smoke in my day-to-day, unfortunately. And unfortunately it's always the same places, mostly bars and restaurants that have outdoor spaces. Places where I'm supposed to smell food I pay for, and I end up smelling smoke instead.

Re: Smoking ban for people born after 2008 in the UK agreed

#404

Post by plqbfbv »

dranudin wrote: post #402
plqbfbv wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This is a clear restriction on liberty. ... Just like many stupid decisions (junk food included), it ought to be my right to decide how to live. I guess that liberty was plenty abused on every non-smoker in a non-smoking area, that ended up coughing in clouds of smoke anyway. Smoking affects everyone around you whether you want it or not, and while you may smoke for 50 years and end up being perfectly healthy, some…

However, people born before 2008 smoking around you, affects you, as well. If they want to protect people they need to ban it for everybody..

> If they want to protect people they need to ban it for everybody..

Last time governments tried to force people to do something for their own sake, you saw how it ended (COVID). If people can't start smoking cigarettes, they won't get hooked up, so gradually at least regular cigarettes will be phased out. Vapes are still controversial, but as a non-smoker with a very sensitive nose, vape smoke is 10000x better than cigarette smoke. It doesn't cause me to cough, it doesn't contain harmful chemical compounds, it doesn't soil clothes nearly as much, and I can still smell food at a restaurant.

Re: Smoking ban for people born after 2008 in the UK agreed

#405

Post by za3faran »

greygoo222 wrote: post #334
vor_ wrote: post #312

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sounds like a great way to avoid alcohol addiction, prevent drunk driving deaths, and save countless generations from being negatively impacted in one way or another by alcohol.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prohibition_in_the_United_Stat...

Apples to oranges. It worked (and works) with the advent of Islam in Muslim lands.

Re: Smoking ban for people born after 2008 in the UK agreed

#406

Post by za3faran »

AngryData wrote: post #368
gopher_space wrote: post #364

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would someone be pro-tobacco without a financial motive? What’s your angle on pushing this crap?

People have been using tobacco for many thousands of years. if they want to use it knowing full well the consequences, they should be able to. Unless we also ban things like skydiving, rock climbing, and fast cars and motorcycles, it makes no sense to me.

Why isn't prohibiting something known to cause harm a good thing? Plus, smoking doesn't just harm the individual doing it, its harm extends to those in the immediate (and sometimes not so immediate) vicinity, as well as the environment. There is literally zero good to gain from it.

Re: Smoking ban for people born after 2008 in the UK agreed

#407

Post by subscribed »

zbentley wrote: post #41
gcanyon wrote: post #16

There are two separate issues here: 1. will this work (will the UK stop smoking) 2. is this something the UK government should be doing Setting aside 1 and looking at 2, it seems silly to me to point out that other things (alcohol) that cause problems and are not being restricted. You take the wins where you find them, and the government isn't a magical force that can impose its will on the people arbitrarily. This i…

> other things (alcohol) that cause problems and are not being restricted Alcohol is heavily restricted, though. You can't sell it to minors, younger minors can't drink it in public, you can't sell/buy/make it above a certain proof, you can only resell it from authorized distributors, it is taxes, and so on. Sure, banning cigarettes for a specific generation is a much more stringent restriction, but plenty of other r…

In the UK you can legally serve your 6 yo alcohol in your own or your friend's house.

What's heavily restricted is the sale and consumption in most public spaces.

Re: Smoking ban for people born after 2008 in the UK agreed

#408

Post by baggy_trough »

NoPicklez wrote: post #362

This is a good thing. Maybe I could sit here and debate the pros and cons, supposed crap about my liberties, is the age bracket the right way to go about it. But this is a good thing, there is nothing good about cigarettes no matter which way you argue it, or compare it to anything else.

This is an obscenity.

Re: Smoking ban for people born after 2008 in the UK agreed

#409

Post by subscribed »

unethical_ban wrote: post #101
gcanyon wrote: post #16

There are two separate issues here: 1. will this work (will the UK stop smoking) 2. is this something the UK government should be doing Setting aside 1 and looking at 2, it seems silly to me to point out that other things (alcohol) that cause problems and are not being restricted. You take the wins where you find them, and the government isn't a magical force that can impose its will on the people arbitrarily. This i…

My suspicion is that alcohol is mind-altering in ways smoking is not, and has a large effect on social interactions in business and romance and coping with the drudgery of daily life. Take away smoking from the next generation and they move to caffeine or vapes. Take away alcohol and there are revolutions and religious extremist revivals.

Americans tried to ban alcohol in the 20s, ended up propping up the organised crime.

The they later enacted the War on Drugs. They still pump billions into cartels and the federal forces.

Re: Smoking ban for people born after 2008 in the UK agreed

#410

Post by subscribed »

gcanyon wrote: post #16

There are two separate issues here: 1. will this work (will the UK stop smoking) 2. is this something the UK government should be doing Setting aside 1 and looking at 2, it seems silly to me to point out that other things (alcohol) that cause problems and are not being restricted. You take the wins where you find them, and the government isn't a magical force that can impose its will on the people arbitrarily. This i…

Re 2 only:

Yeah, except for alcohol all the other drugs are heavily controlled (contrary to the medical or scientific evidence). Tobacco doesn't offer any benefits*

*yeah, I struggle to find significant benefits of alcohol, but there are some. There's nothing that would be beneficial in smoking.

Post reply on HN