Larian Studios Forums General Chat Chat (Anything) A Smoke-Free Exeter.

To all my buddies/friends here on the forum,please click on the link and have a look to the left of the page that opens for an online vote for a smoke-free Exeter and vote as you wish, I'm sure a lot of you will vote for the sensible option. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gif" alt="" />>>>>>>> Smoke-Free Exeter.

I`m hope your are not a smoker.

voted smoke-free for both indoors & out.

*janggut smells burning beard*

Me too. I see that nearly half the voters agree with that option too.

I'm still amazed that so many people still take up the habit, now that so much is known about the harm it does to your health. Not to mention what a huge waste of money it is.

A friend of mine finally gave it up a couple of years ago. Part of his bargain with himself to help him through the withdrawal stage was to put aside the same amount of money that he used to spend on cigarettes, every day. The second part of the bargain was that he would spend that money, as it accumulated, on things for his kids and for himself and his wife. The idea was that seeing the goodies they bought would motivate him to stay off the fags. As you can imagine the house fairly quickly filled up with computer games, a big TV and a DVD player, etc etc. And he hasn't smoked since. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Another friend (who happens to be a professor of psychology at the Uni where my wife did her psych. degree) also made a bargain with himself. He wrote out a large cheque for an organisation that he disliked, put it in a stamped addressed envelope and stuck it on his mantlepiece. His friends and partner were told to take it down and post it if they saw him with a cigarette. being a man of honour he would have posted it himself too, but he quit successfully and didn't need to.

In his case, the cheque (which was a significant amount of money, even for a professor) was made out to a very conservative local organisation which is well known for it's strong anti-gay stance (the prof is gay).

My dad never smoked, but in middle age he worked out one day that he'd saved himself the price of a new Jaguar by never smoking. So he bought one. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

So, whatever it takes, if you smoke and you're reading this - please give up. You're wasting your money, wrecking your health, and you smell bad too! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/puppyeyes.gif" alt="" /> Of course you might think that's nobody else's business. But people who live in your area and share the same public places with you have their clothes end up smelling of your smoke, their lungs breathing some of it, and their taxes partly paying for the additional health care costs that smokers eventually incur.

Nah, smoking sux. Quit while you can - if you're strong enough! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/badsmile2.gif" alt="" />

By one of life’s little coincidences, about an hour after posting the above about smoking I came across this passage in a book I was reading. The book is by Noel Whittaker, an Australian who writes books about money management. Here’s what he says:

"Jack and Jill are 20. Jack chooses to spend about $200 a month on smoking. Jill invests $200 a month in an equity based investment.. As the price of cigarettes tend to rise with inflation, Jill keeps increasing her monthly investment in line with inflation, so her spending matches Jack’s.

Where will they be at age 65 if inflation averages 4% and the return on Jill’s investment averages 9%?

They both will have ‘invested’ $331,000 over those 45 years. Jack’s return is almost certain to be health problems. Jill’s return will be a staggering $2.4 million."

So is that right?

Aus$200 a month on cigarettes is a fairly conservative amount at today’s cigarette prices. And long term smokers will have their health impaired. They may not get cancer, but at the very least they will incur damage to their lungs, heart and arteries that will have a negative effect on their health. And his figures for the one who saves are correct.

So which would you rather end up with kids? A couple of million bucks (a million English pounds or so) or a wrecked rancid body??
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/badsmile2.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devil.gif" alt="" />

I voted to ban it indoors only. Indoors it affects other people who are not smoking. I say permit it outdoors to minimize government intrusion into people's lives.

I smoke, deal with it....

To start with I smoke, this howver is my personal preference.

As such I believe it to be fair to stop smoking indoors and on public transport.
here in West Aussie we already have the majority of smoking bans, they are however trying to go further and ban smoking from Al Fresco area's (outdoor dining ) and you are not allowed to smoke within the 20 meter perimeter of the said area.

Now I run a Restaurant, as it is people that smoke, either have to go and stand on the street or go to the loo and do a secret puff <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> with the 20 meter thing in the street where the restaurants are nearly next to each other (as in my case) this would mean ppl have to walk approx 2 street blocks for a cigar / rette, and as of this time approx 30 - 40 % of my customers still smokethis will mean I loose bussiness.

So the answer to this problem and as forwarded by the Rest & Cateres Assoc. is to develop smoking rooms (properly Ventilated) in Restaurants for customers who like to enjoy an after dinner smoke.

But this was rejected by the local Gov. under pressure from the quit line assoc. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/disagree.gif" alt="" />

Anyway thats my problem with these over the top measures, all is well and willing but Jack boot tactics will only increase the idea of Big Brother.

Well, if anyone smokes and harms himself, he should not threat anyone else.. But if we just deny to smoke everywhere the problem won't perish. Can anyone see a way-out?

That sounds like an emimently fair solution. A pity that it was rejected. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/disagree.gif" alt="" />
I can't see any reason why restaurants, pubs etc shouldn't have 'smoker's lounges', or whatever. Unfortunately, the smell of cigarette smoke ruins the taste and smells of a good meal even in outdoor al fresco eating areas. They're typically not all that large, and the effect of smoke doesn't magically disappear just because you're outside.

I'm not so sure about the point about losing business. Perhaps it has some validity, but I don't recall that many WA restaurants went out of business when the current rules came into force. My recollection is that there was a lot of grumbling and predictions of doom, but for the most part people did change their smoking pattern to fit the new rules. Maybe you also gain a bit of business from non-smokers who now find it attractive to come back?

Unfortunately, this sort of issue can't be decided by reference to people's 'rights'. Whose right do you chose - the smoker's 'right' to smoke where they please or the non-smoker's 'right' to breathe air that hasn't been stunk up by cigarette smoke. In fact neither are 'rights', they're both just wishes. And clearly they often conflict.

How do you feel about your own smoking Mea? Do you rather wish you didn't? Do you not believe that it's harming you?

Actually we are dealing with it. By increasing legislation to encourage you to take your habit back into your burrow. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/badsmile2.gif" alt="" />

Of course you're dealing with it too - by impairing your health and wasting your money. But, hey, we don't really care that much about that - it's your life, and your money... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devil.gif" alt="" />

Hello Mea, another West Aussie here,

My wife is a wicked bureaucrat who works in the policy and planning area of the West Australian Government Health Department, so I asked her what she thought.

She said that although it might seem rather "Jackbootish" that it was driven largely by issues of public health and also legal liabilities for staff and other patrons who are subjected to ‘passive smoking’ from other people’s cigarettes. Both industrially and privately, ‘Health and safety’ issues seem to be a much bigger deal than they used to be. She is not involved in the smoking issue herself but confirmed that the people who are driving it are pretty zealous in their pursuit of a wider non-smoking environment.

Her own opinion was that outright bans on things are not generally a good way to go (e.g. it hasn’t achieved much in the drugs area) but that providing designated smoking areas and offering positive incentives for people to not smoke was a fairer and better strategy.

My wife and I are both non-smokers and would prefer no smokers around when we’re eating. However, she finds it OK in outside eating areas. I dislike being around smoking, even in al fresco areas so I simply don’t go to such places. My choice. Restaurants lose my business, but perhaps gain someone else’s. OK by me.

Smokers mostly didn’t stop flying when it was banned on our planes so I don’t imagine that they’d stop eating out if it was restricted more in that environment, but who knows?

I can’t help noticing that Mea Culpa means "an acknowledgment of guilt" – literally Latin for "my fault" – does that reflect your attitude to your own smoking?? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

Time for me to shut up and watch the AFL Grand Final… <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/party.gif" alt="" />

Most certainly not! Glad to say iv'e never even tried it.
It killed my Mother not to long ago and my Father in Law has just had a vein removed from his neck which gave him a minor stroke just last week which was also caused by smoking(The surgeons words), using up vital resources and time that could be spent on more deserving causes.

Hmm been in this particular Restaurant for 9+ years, it is situated in a busy eating out suburb, and since the smoking thing happened on an avarage saturday night bussiness has gone from 200- 250 down to 100 -150 customers, not too mention that now I have to supply outside heaters so that the customers who do smoke dont freeze there [nocando]'s off.



I smoke ... 75% is habit 25% is enjoying a moment of peace and quiet, I wish ... no not really it hasn't bothered me ...but then I dont drink alcohol, do you drink? wish you didn't ? Have you driven a car while you had 1 beer too many? etc etc <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />



Nope it is not guilt in the point of view towards smoking, however it is a form of guilt, since I am the person in Charge it will always be "my fault" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

and that's all I am going to say about this particular subject, now where did I put my cigarettes ??? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ROFL.gif" alt="" />

I smoke too.
Would i be banished of the forum for that ? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

why? Uni professors are rich in West Australia?
i should really emigrate...
at least for smoking in fresh air <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />
more seriously: is city life better for health than smoking <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

As long as you don't smoke while posting here. Lurking and smoking is, I think, permitted.

Firstly, very sorry to hear about your Mum and Father in Law Spick. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/disagree.gif" alt="" /> Many of us in the older generation took it up before the health effects were well known, and many just weren't able to kick the habit. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/disagree.gif" alt="" />

To Mea:




Hi again Mea, <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Where's your restaurant? Northbridge? Freo? I worked for a while at the Cock and Bull in Subi (about 30 years ago! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> )

Not sure I get the alcohol connection? If I was hooked on booze would it make you feel better about your being hooked on cigarettes? I certainly agree that alcohol abuse can cause as much personal and social damage as smoking.

But to answer the question, yes, I do drink - but not much. I haven't been to a pub for years but I do have a beer or a couple of glasses of wine at home or at friend's houses, maybe a couple of times a week. For instance, last night my wife and I polished off a very tasty bottle of Rosemount Cab Sav. Delicious! But 2 glasses is a cheerful amount, not enough to get rotten on. And the heart foundation claims that a modest amount of red is actually good for your health.

No I don't drive drunk either.

But of course even I was young once, so I've done most of the stupid things in life. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin1.gif" alt="" /> I've drunk too much, driven too fast, done stupid things without considering their effect on other people, etc. But eventually, as I got older, and learned more, I weeded out most of the stuff that seemed worth ditching.

And I smoked too! A classic pack a day habit. I took it up many years ago when the health hazards weren't widely known.

I gave up for several reasons:

1) There is now no doubt whatsoever that it impairs your health.
2) I was wasting a lot of money.
3) I hated the fact that it was controlling me, and not the other way round. I’m sure that all smokers have experienced the feeling of dismay when they look in the packet and see that it’s empty and the pubs are closed, and "Geez, I just need ONE more before I go to sleep". I hated that feeling.

I won't bore you with the method I used but it was VERY effective. Some ex smokers report that they never quite lose the desire for a fag, but I made the whole business so aversive that I've genuinely never wanted one since. When I look at smokers, ashtrays, and the whole business now it seems odd that I ever thought it was good. But it is 25 years since I smoked.

Out of interest, I also did a calculation about how much I've saved by not smoking - and like the examples quoted above it has added up to a lot of money. Enough in fact to completely pay for a very nice sports car that I bought last year. It's a beautiful thing, 0-100kpm in 6.2 secs, top speed of over 240kpm, etc. It's a hell of a lot more fun than fags! And yes, I do admit I have just sneaked a tiny bit over the speed limit once or twice, early in the morning on an empty road - so, there, I do have a vice left.

Many of my friends and relatives smoked back when we were younger, but most managed to give up (including both my brothers and my wife). Believe me, the ones who kept going don't look too good these days. If you don't confront them directly, all the smokers I know have been privately willing to concede that they'd like to give up, but can't.

Good luck. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Not sure about all of them, but the ones I know are doing very nicely.. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />



Not sure mate - I don't do either. It's fag free country air for me. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Chacun a son gout.. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" /> (Sorry, my keyboard doesn't do the accents over the letters).

And just to encourage all you smokers to give up and put the money towards something else, here's a picture of what I was able to buy with all the money I saved by giving up smoking 25 years ago.

Waiting to compete at an autokhana day at Wanneroo raceway.



Eat your hearts out smokers.. (oh, wait a minute, no need - the fags are already doing that for you... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devil.gif" alt="" />

Seriously though, please do try and quit. You will be very glad you did if you succeed. Good luck. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />