Originally Posted by TomPhil

That comment is extremely offensive. Many unborn babies and children every year are damaged due to the irresponsible smoking of their parents and other people. Everyone has the right to their opinion, and should not be subject to such insensitive and offensive slurs for expressing it. I'm sure many people on this forum, including myself, know of people - relatives, friends, etc., who have died as a result of smoking, and of the profound impact that their smoking induced illness and death can have on many people beyond themselves.

People who support the smoking ban are not fascists, they are people who want the freedom to socialise with others without being subjected to breathing dangerous and toxic chemicals. Sometimes one has to balance two different and opposing freedoms. There is my freedom, as a non-smoker, to go out and socialise with my friends, colleagues, etc. in a smoke-free environment, and the "freedom" of the smoker to pollute the air with toxic chemicals.

If the smoking ban was repealed, then my freedom would be seriously restricted. I would be unable to attend many of the pubs in the country, and also would be unable to attend various social gatherings which were held at such pubs (if I chose to go my evening would be ruined and throughly unpleasant, and my health damaged). The impact that would have on my social life (and my prospects at work, which would be hindered by not being able to socialise with my colleagues who regularly socialise at a pub that previously was very smoky), would mean a great restriction on my freedom in this area. On the other hand, the smoking ban simply means that those of the population who are stupid enough to spend significant amounts of money on regularly inhaling extremely toxic chemical cocktails must go outside the pub to smoke. It's nothing like the imposition placed on me if there is no smoking ban. They are not prohibited in any way from going to a pub, as I would be if there was no smoking ban. If you choose to participate in the mindless activity of smoking, then is it only a small ask that you do not inflict it on other more sensible people.