Labour's smoking ban killed the British pub

[d000hg]

Again we come back to "I want you to subsidise what I do even if you don't do it" which is not going to cut it with me nor with the treasury.

Except for the arts, sport, etc, which are subsidised.

This is one problem of a purely capitalistic system, some things which are important don't make good financial sense. For instance if we replace "village pub" with "village coffee shop" it is very unlikely to do well, and then a village can have literally no shared indoor space other than maybe an old stone church - which financially makes even less sense

[Gittins Gal]

If you're too fat to fit - not fit easily but physically fit - in a regular seat then that's not because of "a little bit of naughtiness".

No, could be some congenital condition and that would hardly be my fault would it? (or do the revisionists have it that no congenital condition exists that causes obesity?)

Similarly if you like the odd cigarette/cigar, not being able to have one at the pub wouldn't stop you going.

Probably would some of the time if I could have one at home in the warm.

[Gittins Gal]

Jesus fook love, you don't half do irony. You are the one wanting the government to modify tax to change people's behaviour.

Can you quote me on that?

[Platypus]

so it was probbly an honour killing

I'm sure this must be a reference to something else

[Platypus]

The Danish had the right idea.

Every bar or restaurant has to decide what it's smoking policy is - either

1. Non smoking
2. Separate smoking and non-smoking areas
3. Smoking throughout

Then they display a sign outside the door which makes it clear what the policy is and then it is up to you whether you go in or not.

Yeah, I often wondered why this wasn't done. Until I remembered it's about forcing people to stop.

[Platypus]

Why should a non smoker pay into the NHS to treat a smoker.

I pay in to treat obese people, but I am not obese.

I pay in so that people can have gender reassignment surgery which I think is unnecessary

I pay in so that flat chested ladies can get bigger boobs which alleviates their low self esteem while I think it's vanity.

I pay in for people to have IVF treatment when there are children crying out to be adopted.

I pay in to treat people who get into drunken fights or who have liver damage but I'm not a violent drunk or excessive drinker.

But we do all those things because that's the society we have. It's understood that we help the less fortunate be that through benefits or health services.

[Mich the Tester]

I pay in to treat obese people, but I am not obese.

I pay in so that people can have gender reassignment surgery which I think is unnecessary

I pay in so that flat chested ladies can get bigger boobs which alleviates their low self esteem while I think it's vanity.

I pay in for people to have IVF treatment when there are children crying out to be adopted.

I pay in to treat people who get into drunken fights or who have liver damage but I'm not a violent drunk or excessive drinker.

But we do all those things because that's the society we have. It's understood that we help the less fortunate be that through benefits or health services.

And someday some terrible accident might befall you and you'll need to be taken to a taxpayer funded hospital in a taxpayer funded ambulance and given modern medical treatment by taxpayer funded doctors and nurses who've been trained in taxpayer funded schools. There are many areas where I think the government should get its nose out of matters, but this isn't one of them. I've seen some of the private alternatives around the world and I'm still convinced that despite its faults, the NHS provides damn good value and also makes quite a statement about civilised values; even if you have no money and we all hate your guts (no not you Platypus), you'll be treated with the best that modern medicine can provide when something awful happens to you.

[Gittins Gal]

And someday some terrible accident might befall you and you'll need to be taken to a taxpayer funded hospital in a taxpayer funded ambulance and given modern medical treatment by taxpayer funded doctors and nurses who've been trained in taxpayer funded schools. There are many areas where I think the government should get its nose out of matters, but this isn't one of them. I've seen some of the private alternatives around the world and I'm still convinced that despite its faults, the NHS provides damn good value and also makes quite a statement about civilised values; even if you have no money and we all hate your guts (no not you Platypus), you'll be treated with the best that modern medicine can provide when something awful happens to you.

I don't think that's what the poster was implying Mich.

Edit: just realised who the poster is

[Mich the Tester]

I don't think that's what the poster was implying Mich.

Edit: just realised who the poster is

I was agreeing with him.

[Platypus]

And someday some terrible accident might befall you and you'll need to be taken to a taxpayer funded hospital in a taxpayer funded ambulance and given modern medical treatment by taxpayer funded doctors and nurses who've been trained in taxpayer funded schools. There are many areas where I think the government should get its nose out of matters, but this isn't one of them. I've seen some of the private alternatives around the world and I'm still convinced that despite its faults, the NHS provides damn good value and also makes quite a statement about civilised values; even if you have no money and we all hate your guts (no not you Platypus), you'll be treated with the best that modern medicine can provide when something awful happens to you.

Oh I agree, I was just extending the argument beyond treating smokers