Society & Culture

Smokers - the biggest people being discriminated against

Society & Culture

Posted by: Ralphy

1st Dec 2010 01:04pm

I am a smoker and have been since I was 15 (quite a few years now) I always said when they reach $5 I would give up but like most of us, when they go up we increase our "price" when we will quit. Look to be honest, I enjoy smoking and unless some doctor says, "Your going to die within 6 months if you don't quit." then I am likely to continue for many more years... We smokers pay through the nose for our cigarettes and so much of what we pay goes to taxes... I remember the days when you could actually have a beer and smoke in a pub at the bar, you could even sit in a restaurant and smoke... Ok I agree that smoking in restaurants should be banned as should smoking in cars with small kids... but now they are looking at banning smoking in open areas such as parks and street side cafes etc... They are saying it is bad for our health but they are making us stand in the open in the middle of winter to have a smoke... ok it's our choice to smoke but we deserve to have an area designated for us that is protected from the weather.. Why do all the non smokers get the rights? How much money is the government making from our cigraette packs? lots. More than likely responsible for upgrades to these parks and the footpaths etc that we are soon to be banned from... Now that us smokers have been relegated to the alleys and out of the way places to have our smokes, litter is increasing as there is no designated ashtrays at these sites (most of them anyway).. we are longer away from our work as we have to leave the building and walk for ever to get to an area we area allowed to smoke in, basically we are being discriminated against in a very big way, and lets be totally up front and honest about this, the government doesn't really want us to stop smoking as they are making way too much money on it... if it was as bad as they say (and I believe they only say these things and spend money on anti smoking adds etc etc to satisfy the vocal minority who will whinge about anything) then smoking would be illegal... they have the ability to make it so but they wont as long as they can get so much from the sales tax on them...

I just think it is wrong that we can no longer have a smoke even in a beer garden whilst having a beer.... we are certainly paying for the right to smoke so we should have as many rights as anyone else....

I will now sit back and watch the outrageous replies from those very same vocal minority whiners who would complain that the sun is too bright in summer but not bright enough in winter lol... bring it on you complainers


Loz
  • 12th Mar 2011 03:56pm

I am a non-smoker and agree with a lot of things you say about the govt and your rights being taken away. However, I get asthmatic from cigarette smoke, and choose to keep away from smokers and their smoke. I object strongly to having to hold my breath each time I leave a shopping centre to pass through the smoke around the doorways and entrances. I agree there should be designated areas, and the govt should put some of the money they get from tobacco taxes into them. Do smokers think it is their right to litter the roads and footpaths with their butts?

Why are there not smoking beer gardens? Staff could be smokers and sign a waiver as to their health issues down the track and all could be happy. Fines for litterers of butts and other refuse should be enforced and ashtrays in smoking areas.

We can't stop smokers smoking, so why not allow special areas for it in public places, so non smokers don't have to inhale?


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