I think they should just ban the transportation of children in cars....I wonder how many accidents they cause by distracting their parents...

Well one mother nearly ran me over on a zebra crossing as she was looking behind her shouting at her children.

Because legislation stops people doing it now? All prohibition does is drive it underground and fund organised crime. The object of smoking is not to kill oneself, it has long been an accepted social activity in this Country. I will remind you sir, that illicit drugs were once perfectly legal in this Country.



People expect food to be safe and wholesome, and even then there are plenty of foods that are unhealthy or are even carcinogens. These are perfectly legal. People are made fully aware of the risks of smoking, if they wish to take the risk then that's their decision. You have no right to make that determination for them.

I do when it affects other people. I'm an ex-smoker, and I fully appreciate that if I choose to smoke, then I should it away from other people who choose not to.
When I eat it affects my body, not that of my children (unless I was a breastfeeding mother, which I'm not) or anyone else I'm smoking around.

This is down to common sense again, isn't it? A good parent must know that smoking is bad for them, and bad for their offspring. Therefore, they should be able to curtail the habit in confined spaces, like the car.

I don't think we should legislate for bad parenting, should we?

On the other hand...

Sure when it affects other people then I completely agree. But no-one has the right, not even Nanny (i.e. the British government) to tell an adult whether or not they can smoke and what they can do in their own home.

Not even when it directly affects the health of their children? Do the children have a say in this?

So, smoking at home in front of the kids is ok?
As Heather says, that's a call on responsible parenting first and foremost.

There is, however, no denying that smoking is primarily a vast waste of money, bad for your health, and makes you smell bad.
If people were paying to roll in [LIFTED] in public, then wipe it on passers by, would you want that to be outlawed?
Or is it their right as a 'responsible adult'?

Same argument applies to parent speeding, driving over the limit, not putting child or them selves in seat belts, not changing the car tyres when worn down etc etc etc etc etc

So I propose an easy solution don't have children Simple.

That's one solution.

It's parenting that's at fault here. Lack of skills and awareness seems to be the problem. The selfish society.

Any decent parent wouldn't smoke in the same car or room/house as a child anyway.

I wouldn't care if smoking was banned. I smoke about once a month, less so this year.

Unfortunately, taking away rights is what the world does when someone gets put above everyone else. You can't take drugs, you can talk about or research certain things to fulfill personal curiosity...

Would the country be a bad place without smoking? Probably no better or worse than it is now, people would be angry and irritated for a bit, but that would soon change...

If you've got a kid, you shouldn't be allowed to smoke around them, or drink excessively while they are in your care, or a great many other things...We should be saying "it shouldn't be allowed", we should be saying "be a sensible parent".

I agree that it is common sense that you don't smoke in a house or car if there are children there (or regularly visiting). The problem is that sort of sense is increasingly less common these days, which is why a lot of things end up being legislated against.

Wiping [LIFTED] on someone is a tad different to smoking out in public. If you're going to start policing what people do in their own homes then we start on a VERY slippery slope. If the conditions of the house are detrimental to the health of the children then Social Services will become involved, simplez.

Not really, both leave a disgusting smell in your clothes and on your skin, leave you feeling dirty and needing a shower...

The plus side with [LIFTED] is that I am not allergic to it and won't have a coughing fit...