Passive Resistance To The Smoking Ban
The oppressive law that comes into force in England on July 1st will face a campaign of civil disobedience on its first day in force. Landlords of up to 200 pubs are planning to hold a “day of defiance” when the legislation comes into force, by allowing smoking inside their premises on 1st July - and beyond if that is what their customers want. This comes as the absolute ban on smoking in virtually all public places is facing three high court challenges.
A figurehead of the resistance to the ban, Nick Hogan of The Swan pub in Bolton, Lancashire, said:
“This protest is growing and we are still a month away. It is a -protest against dictatorship. It is not about being pro-smoking. It is about the freedom to choose.”
That is precisely the point. The way that the smoking ban is universal in all enclosed public areas, irrespective of any other factors, is wrong. If the act held any way by which a pub could continue to allow smoking, such as be the granting of a licence, the requirement of a certain level of ventilation, and the declaration of its smoking status at the entrance, then I would support it.
Thus, I support this traditional form of British resistance to a badly made law. I dislike smoking, but I can, and do, enact my right and ability to go and drink elsewhere. It is the compulsory nature of the law that make it unacceptable.
Source: The Telegraph
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I have never smoked in my life and think it a dreadful habit, but this f****** government makes me want to light up 60 a day, duty free.
I spoke to a group of people today who were adamant that they would tear out any road pricing car devices.
Is this the beginning of a true democratic rebellion, or a descent into general lawlessness?
I agree with you, Dick - I don’t smoke (and hate smoke) but this government certains makes me want to join in this rebelion just by buying a packet of fags and lighting them one by one and letting them burn away inside a pub on July 1.
I think it’s more the beginning of a democratic rebellion, as intending to break a law that has not yet been implemented can hardly be termed “general lawlessness”. After all, they’re just planning to do something that until the day before was completely legal!
Hi TD,
I was thinking more of the lengths ‘ordinary’ people are now going to, to avoid Gatso fines, congestion charges etc., by car cloning, getting granny to take the points etc etc - once the sole province of master criminals and the Labour Party.
I abhor smoking. I think it is the absolute worst when we have parents or nannies smoking while caring for children. Strangely, I am against the nanny state. Which is odd since I am always on http://isawyournanny.blogspot.com
My response to the landlords saying they’ll break the law on Sunday?
What ignorance tossers.
See here:
http://stonch.blogspot.com/2007/06/defying-smoking-ban.html
and here:
http://stonch.blogspot.com/2007/06/defying-smoking-ban-in-blackpool.html
I repeat: tossers.
You’re absolutely and totally wrong. The smoking ban is a draconian law. Why should it not be possible for pubs to continue to allow smoking if THEY want to? If you don’t like it, find another pub.
The bans provides NO way through which pubs could continue to allow smoking - not even through installing ventilation to improve air quality to a certain level.
I dislike smoky pubs - so I make my choice and don’t go to them!
Here, I would say that YOU are being by far the greater tosser.