All I am saying it is our turn now. I am not whingeing. In fact you're the one who is quite loudly doing so in response to the choice of the populace of the canton of Zurich democratically choosing in a referendum to ban smoking in public establishments. Basically you're saying it was all great when it was convenient for you, but now that it is convenient for us, it's wrong. Please come back with some consistent arguments.

have we not been here before 'many' times with the smoking debate? we should dig out the old threads, copy and paste and save everyone typing and thinking time

There has been a huge decline in pubs culture in the UK, granted. Smoking may be one of the factors, but there are many other factors, mainly a general trend away from pubs towards lounges, and a trend away from beer to spirits and wine. It's not so simple. I'd ask for numbers/articles to back your claim up, but I'm too lazy right now to look up the articles I read on this issue. In small towns, you may be right; would be interesting to research more.

Why have this forum at all?

My argument is consistent, I'm saying the outright banning of smoking in pubs is wrong, there was always the option to go to non smoking pubs, people chose not to, and instead voted to ban people going to smoking ones.

Good one Derv the Perv. I don't drive either. Or smoke. But I would really appreciate if you'd stop blowing all that hot air in my direction. It's very unhealthy for my complexion.

fair point

anyway back to the debate

So who thinks May 1st will come around and it will be postponed yet again?

Exactly! I would love to go out in Switzerland as well, like I used to in the old country. Just to meet friends after work for a drink, go out to clubs dancing..well, I tried about twice but as I have the funny desire to actually breathe, I gave up. And take my money to France or just sit at home. There are loads of people like me who would go out and spend money in bars more often if they weren't all so full of smoke.

In Canada, after all the supposed 'doom and gloom' never materialised, bar owners realised they could earn way more money off the non-smokers and families. They had a bad business model to start of with, and in this rare case, the govt helped them out.

Judging by some of the attitudes here, yes, it will be postponed.

We ought to have a poll - who moved to Switzerland so they could smoke in pubs and restaurants?

However, things are changing at a fairly rapid pace amongst the locals. It was only three or four years ago when at a gathering, all the men would go off and have a cigar to celebrate whatever what ever was being celebrated.
These same people aren't doing this anymore.

They do welcome all clients, they just don't bend over backwards to satisfy their habits that are harmful to the people around them anymore. If you want to smoke a cigarette you temporarily need to step outside. It really comes down to this: the health of others > your convenience. And like it or not, it does affect others. Every time, without fail. If it's so important to you than you'd rather stay at home, then I don't know what to tell you.

People didn't have the choices they have now. You don't need to drink alcohol if you go out and socialise.
You can get decent coffee in the U.K. now have it in a cafe. You couldn't do that a few years ago.
There are much better restaurants than there used to be.
Lots of reasons for going out but not going to the pub.

Bleach it

I had to go for a health check few weeks ago, all clear.. my lungs were fine and I said to the good Doctor, but I've been smoking for a good number of years, you sure there's nothing?

After thinking for few moments she replied, well the effects of smoking vary from people to people and also they dont appear till late in life!

I wanted to say but you've got surveys and researches that say people who smoke X number of cigerettes live Y number of days less than they would. Dont see no disclaimers there stating the effects can vary and sometimes would be none, as I have/had quite a few smokers in my family, all lived long and healthy lives!

There were worse pollutants in that Air we breathe, then cigerette smoke and also if you stay away or dotn smoke for a few days, your lungs clear up. (Though would never smoke near or around Children)

Smoking Chills... Stress Kills !!!

"People" like you would probably be making other "people" to spend their money in bars and pubs, technically speaking.

No there isn't

No they don't

Smoking is one of the most dangerous things someone can possibly do to themselves and to suggest otherwise openly like this is incredibly negligent.

same thing as far as the turnover of the pub is concerned (btw the avatar is not me)

Oh, no they don't. If you have been smoking for a few years then your lungs are never, ever going to be as good as they were before you started.

And once some of the effects are noticeable (later in life as your doctor mentioned), it's too late to do anything about it.

The trouble is, when you're young, you feel immortal,

Yeh, right. This would be on which planet exactly??

I'd agree with you there.

Unfortunately you can't really apply the same logic to restaurants. The non-smokers wouldn't get much of a choice.