The Boy on Top
Heh. My father is a chain smoker, and ever since I left home fo college (lo these many years ago), I noticed I'd get terrible colds and dry throat whenever I'd visit. To the point that, nowadays, I refuse to sleep at their house on a visit, because it would make me and my family sick.
I agree that unless a smoker *wants* to quit, it won't work, but I also agree that us nonsmokers shouldn't have to die because of their vice.
On the other hand, people who choose risky behavior increase the health care costs for those of us who don't choose risky behavior (this may only be a US issue, 'cause of private insurance). I figure, if someone wants to smoke, or if they want to ride a motorcycle without a helmet, that's fine -- they can do what they want.
But damned if I'm going to cover their risks with higher insurance premiums.
Just what are you doing blogging at 6am? Get thee to a warm comphy bed woman!
The cost argument holds hear. Socialised medical care just means we pay higher taxes. Same argument holds for obesity too. I'm less concerned about that, tho there has been some political discussion about rationing health care for those that don't look after themselves health wise. TB
I find the smoking ban quite liberating. Pubs and clubs just smell so much fresher. I remember when you used to be able to smoke on busses, so as a child going to and from school we'd be subjected to the chuffing oldies at the back...
I remember going on planes when you could still smoke. That was the worst as the air would be positively foul on a long haul. TB
Spot on mate. Smoked since I was 15. Almost stopped now - vary between none a day and 6 a day on a bad one.
The draconian regulations haven't bothered me one bit as I never smoked around non smokers anyway. Always went to the bar or outside in a restaurant and ate in 'non-smoking'. Bloody awful when your steak arrives and some prat lights a cigar up.
Even as a teenager I wouldn't smoke in other homes or in cafes. Just didn't feel right somehow.
If I do stop completely I'll be a right git to anyone lighting up near me!!!
Ha! Non smokers always are. One of my sisters who stopped goies into an absolute strop if someone lights up near her. TB
The smoking ban in my state of Ohio is incredibly heavy handed. Smoking in any public faciltiy is illegal. Gimme a break, this includes places which non-smokers would never venture. Case in point, it includes tobacco/cigar stores.
Yeah, that does go too far. In the UK its even banned in private clubs, which just isn't fair. And banning it in a tobacco store? Doesn't make sense. Still, based on what I've seen, there does need to be a balance between smoker and non. The question is finding the tipping point that's fair. TB
If you start down the 'not looking after yourself health wise' route, there will have to be a lot of evaluating done - what about contact sports and other dangerous activities? Whenever I see a fit friend hobbling, my first question is 'sport injury?' and the answer is always 'yes'. I've got a couple of very fat friends who are storing up trouble, but it's the one with anorexia who has spent weeks in hospital this year, and even if she recovers, there are long-term implications such as osteoporosis. You might attribute her situation to a mental problem, but arguably obesity is the other side of the same coin. Then there is the long-term cost - what you save on the smokers no longer dying young after taking up medical resources, you'll spend on their care when they're old, as well as on their pensions.
Regarding the survey, it seems to give rise to an awful lot of questions. I hardly ever breathed in much smoke so the smoking ban has made very little difference to me and no difference to my risk of a heart attack. Surely that's the same for many people, in Scotland or here? Such a large drop in one year could only be attributed to a single factor if a lot more research were done first.
I don't disagree with your first paragraph at all. I think its a very dangerous route to go down. As to your second, don't fall into the "it doesn't happen to me, so it doesn't happen" falacy. Lots of people who went to pubs didn't smoke, plus most people work in small businesses which didn't have smoking at the workplace bans. I'm not surprised at the result at all. TB
Absolutely OK!
Thanks, and sorry! TB
Z - agree with all of that (except I'm not sure your experience of passive smoking is necessarily that similar to that of someone living in an urban area?). I would like to read the heart attacks study, but i am fairly sure (after half an hour of research) that it hasn't yet been published.
There is the data on the Scottish Gov't website, haven't seen the raw results though. TB
I used to smoke 20 Red Marlboro a day.
Now I am the worst anti smoker there is. Wendy has to hang out the window !.
You are a cruel man... tho I'd do the same... TB
The same data is all over the press, but it's all just a rehash of the Glasgow University press release (sometimes not even a rehash). I'm reserving judgment a bit just because it seems too good to be true.
Fair enough. It would be hard numbers to twiddle because its a base line statistic. The game would be presenting not like for like numbers, and heaven forbid that never happens... TB
I'm a smoker who has chosen NOT to smoke for 2 weeks now. I love the no smoking ban because I come home from the pub smelling the same way that I went out at the start of the evening. That aside, I hate it when my friends nip out for a crafty one and I am left sat on my own, easy meat for cheap one-liners. When I ran bars and restaurants, all my staff were classed as smokers for their GP healthchecks even though many of them didn't smoke because they failed their breath test on inhaled carbon monoxide levels ingested from passive smoking. I'm new to your blog but great post and will be back for more.
Rach
Welcome! Good for you for giving up. Its no easy thing, especially if you have to put up with the one liners... TB
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