Doorway ban plan is 'a step too far'
SMOKERS huddled in doorways could soon be an image of the past if proposals to reduce the number of people lighting up are passed.
Banning smoking outside entrances to buildings is the latest suggestion to come from health chiefs, as the government continues to explore ways of encouraging people to quit the habit.
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FAG BREAK: Smokers Stanley Broadhurst, from Stoke, Dave Booth, from Bentilee, and Mike Smith, from Fenton, outside Revolution, Hanley, yesterday. Smoking in pub entrances could soon be against the law. Below, Health Secretary Andy Burnham. Picture: Mark Scott
But Health Secretary Andy Burnham's recent plans have been described as "a step too far" by smokers in the Potteries.
Stood outside Revolution bar, Trinity Street, Hanley, yesterday lunchtime, Dave Booth, aged 50, from Bentilee was enjoying a cigarette.
The night porter said: "Where do they want us to go now then?
"What they should do is bring back the old idea of two rooms in a pub, where one can be used for smoking."
Stanley Broadhurst, aged 40, was another smoker outside the bar.
He said: "I don't mind going outside, but with this legislation, do they want us to go down alleyways or something? This is a step too far."
Retired security worker Mike Smith, aged 55, from Fenton, was another enjoying a cigarette on the kerb.
"Smokers do have human rights as well," he said. "I don't know where the government would want us to go to.
"Since the smoking ban, I don't seem to see my friends socially, as people aren't meeting up in pubs like they used to. This won't make it better."
Shop workers forced to head outside for a cigarette break say they have been victims of abuse in the past.
Stuart Hart, aged 41, from Yarnfield, who works at TK Maxx in Hanley, said: "Sometimes people walk past and ask you for a cigarette.
"If you tell them no, sometimes they accept it, but other times you are given abuse.
"I laughed when I heard about the government's plans."
Perched on a window ledge outside The Potteries Shopping Centre in Hanley, shop worker Val Smith, aged 62, said the consequences of the plans could be "really bad".
"I've smoked since I was 15," she said, "I remember when we had smoking rooms inside and they worked, but now we come outside and we have to accept it. But where do they expect us to go now?
"We sometimes work late and come outside at night where there are drunks around and we get abuse from people when we won't give them a cigarette.
"Soon there will be nowhere we can go and that will be really bad."
Val's colleague Sadie Haynes, aged 33 from Berry Hill, said: "The worst thing they did was take away smoking rooms.
"Now we have no choice, but to come outside and smoke and people now have no choice, but to walk past us.
"The smoking rooms have gone and now we come outside, but now we can't do that. Where do they want us to go?"
But the government proposals have met with approval from non-smokers.
Mother-of-one Perry Walmsley-Pitts, aged 29, from Cheddleton, said: "Sometimes you find yourself walking through a cloud of smoke to get into places.
"My child is only young, so I can't tell him to hold his breath."
Pensioner Alan Parsons, aged 78, from Milehouse, also backed the plans.
"I don't smoke, so I see it as a good thing," he said.
"It's not pleasant to be hit by smoke when you head into somewhere."
Mother-of-three Tracey Johnson, aged 44, from Newcastle, said: "It only really bothers me when people stand right in the doorways and you can't get past."
The proposals have won the backing of NHS Stoke-on-Trent.
A spokesman said: "Significant progress has been made since the launch of the government's 1998 Smoking Kills White Paper.
"Tobacco advertising is no longer permitted, thousands of people have been helped to quit by the local NHS Stop Smoking services and people can now work free from the harm of secondhand smoke.
"This new strategy sets out an ambitious vision to significantly reduce the burden of tobacco harm in society and we fully support this as a primary care trust."
91 Comments
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by ANON, DERBY
Monday, February 15 2010, 7:33PM
“I dont see why I should have to inhale smoke every day when entering and exiting my workplace! There are always large groups of smokers blocking the door way (and I often find myself holding my breath. Its disgusting!!!! Whats even more disgusing is that the employer doesnt do anything about it despite them breaking the regulations!!”
by kerry, stoke
Friday, February 05 2010, 5:46PM
“when will beer be next to be banned?
everyday and night A&E is filled with alcoholics, childre, adults, and people what have drunk too much.
how often do you see a smoker in A&E because hes smoked too many fags?”
by kerry, stoke
Friday, February 05 2010, 5:40PM
“in 10 years time there wont be any pubs left.,
no smokers,
no fireworks(too dangerous),
no shops on street corners (only takeaways)
there will be immigrants living in every street,
criminals are having a great time, knowing theres no space in prisons, they get off.
sky high taxes.
beer will go the same way as ciggarettes
it will be a boring country to live.
this country has gone right downhill ever since labour got into power.
theres too many health and safety rules these days.
you need a certificate in health and safety just to be a litter collecter.
i for one wont be voting labour.”
by clif e, London
Thursday, February 04 2010, 8:36PM
“when pubs and clubs start suffering because of this governments smoking ban, all this government can do is add to their burdens by putting up the price of alcohol, taxing them more and now they want to get rid of more of their customers by forceing them to not let their customers smoke outside the buildings, and not even giving them any help and assistance for their troubles "inthe way of tax breaks", this seems like a attack on pubs and clubs to me, it is like they want to put them out of busness, what a lovely government.”
by mh, stoke on trent
Thursday, February 04 2010, 9:35AM
“to all those hardened anti smoking and vocal anti smoking commenters in the room, it seems like you are actualy talking about he thin end of the wedge realy....i reffer you to my previous post to ROCKAPE..
ALSO...even if it was a contravention of peoples rights, dont you actualy think that the government would actualy take further steps towards making the ultimate act of banning tobbacco products and making the manufacture and use of them illigal?....ANSWER....moneyyyyyy.
as like any political party they firstly look after themselves and the populace afterwards.
as stated they take billions of pounds in tax from smokers, then they have the tax from the maufacturers, then they have the income tax from the manufacturers employees, the act goes on and on and on in a continual circle.
they will NEVER ban smoking completely due to the fact that it is too much of a money spinner. so those amongst you that state it costs the government more in treating smoking related ailments than the govt can afford i suggest you take a look at thefigures, or also ask your local mp to actualy make a statement as to the figures from income recieved from smoking and smoking industry as opposed to healthcare issues.
if you want to stop treating smokers, what next, not treating that lady.prob has a shorter life expectancy than her there as shes thin...
dont treat him, that person sitting next to him works but hes unemployed.
JUST WHO ARE YOU TO DECIDE WHO SHOULD RECIEVE TREATMENT AND WHO SHOULDNT??”
by anon, Stoke
Wednesday, February 03 2010, 7:11PM
“"People who continue to smoke are making an educated choice to be unhealthy." - James, Stone
People continually making an educated to live unhealthy lifestyle is the best argument for a US style system of healthcare insurance. If they can't be bothered looking after themselves why should the healthy effectively subsidise them?”
by anon, Stoke
Wednesday, February 03 2010, 6:49PM
“A, Stoke, sorry, but you're talking out your harris. They wouldn't be trying to get people to stop if it wasn't such a burden. Try working in health and find out for yourself.”
by debbie, Chell Heath
Wednesday, February 03 2010, 4:47PM
“smoker, staffs..... I was not moaning abou it. I was just pointing out it has already started I totally agree with what you said as I am a None Smoker Myself”
by mark, fenton
Wednesday, February 03 2010, 4:38PM
“all this talking about smoking is making me want a fag anybody want one”
by smoker, staffs
Wednesday, February 03 2010, 4:16PM
“Debbie Chell Heath....have to say that is one place I would agree with a ban as smoke blowing into the hospital is not good.”