Smoking purge: What you think about plans
RADICAL proposals to curb Plymouth's high smoking rates have provoked mixed reactions from city residents.
The Herald yesterday revealed a wide range of ideas presented in the city's draft Tobacco Control Strategy — including handing out nicotine patches in schools and restricting smoking at some outdoor public events such as the fireworks championships.
Members of the public have branded some proposals as "ridiculous", but others welcomed measures which could stop future generations taking up the habit.
Smoker Andy Reece, 39, of Crownhill, said: "Smoking should definitely die out as a thing to do but I think we should be able to make our own decisions as long as it doesn't harm another person.
"It's ridiculous to ban it in open spaces. We are not stupid, we know smoking could kill us but I think in the open air, there are a lot worse fumes, such as carcinogens from cars."
He added that nicotine patches should not be available in schools "for the simple reason that children shouldn't be able to buy cigarettes".
"We should be cracking down on whoever is selling the cigarettes to kids, or buying tobacco for them," he added.
Bob Ditchett, 67, of Whitleigh, said he smoked more than 40 cigarettes a day until he needed a quadruple heart bypass five years ago, mainly due to the habit. He still believes people should be free to smoke where they please.
He said: "I enjoy smoking but I can't. If my heart was all right, I'd be back on it now, but it's not worth the risk. I don't think it's right to stop people smoking outside. You are not on this planet very long. If you enjoy smoking, you should be allowed to do it."
Security guard John Bending, aged 48, of Crownhill, was against nicotine therapy being available to schoolchildren but backed widespread bans.
He said: "You see kids in Crownhill village as young as 11 or 12 smoking. The shops should be stopped from selling cigarettes to them.
"I'm trying to give up smoking and I think they should ban smoking altogether to discourage people. People should be able to smoke in their own homes and in the street but nowhere else."
Plymouth mother-of-two Nikki Lee, 36, said: "I agree with the smoking ban in pubs and inside but definitely not in outside spaces. If they banned smoking at the fireworks competition, I just wouldn't go."
Mother-of-ne Natasha Harulow, 34, of Eggbuckland, said: "I don't think they will be able to stop people smoking outside. How would they control it?"
But Mike Sanders, 66, of Crownhill, said he believed smoking should be deterred in "whatever way possible".
"I've been smoking since I was 14 and agree with the idea of nicotine patches in schools," he added. "Teenagers should be able to make the same decisions as adults."
Carly Doke, a youth support worker in Honicknowle, said: "I think it would be really good to get it out there and give more young people access to help. "Children need support to quit as nicotine is just as addictive, if not more, for them than adults. With nicotine patches, they would be getting the nicotine but none of the chemicals that are in cigarettes."
Plymouth's Tobacco Control Strategy 2010 to 2020 is in its earliest stages and will be subject to city-wide consultation.
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by mark, plymouth
Thursday, July 08 2010, 3:17AM
“Yeah that's a great idea lets have nicotene patches available in ever school so that we can help all our kids get hooked on nicotine as it's not enough that some parents and older sibblings are allowing the young kids access to their cigarettes already', infact why dont we just stick a patch on from birth......nip it in the bud lets say"...what is this world coming to?...
If you are old enough by law you should be allowed to make your own decision about weather are not you want to smoke" in open spaces or not and just like it is illegal to drive or drink alcohol when you are below a certain age it should illegal to sell to kids especially if they they cant prove their age . . .
shop owner should be held more responsible for that and like some one mentioned, anyone call giving kids/illegals cigarettes should held just has responsible has a shop nicorete patches that's a funny one a mean surely everyone knows that nicotine is one of the most highly addictive substance there is on the market today ...why not just shove some antidepresants in there as well!....”
by Keep-your-hands-off-my-life, it-doesn't-concern-you!
Wednesday, June 16 2010, 6:29AM
“@Leanne et al
Who exactly gave you the right to hold dominion over the rest of the world?
Whose to say your self interested opinion is right?
With over 6 billion of us on the planet and quickly consuming it, living longer and better than anyone at any other time, is there really any need for the nosey parker brigade to try dragging every last person's life out further by hammering away at every last simple pleasure you anti-social busy-bodies can find to stand against until they've banned everything except bread, water and guilt.
(perhaps if you could just all do the world a favour, keep you're ample noses out of other people's lives and look towards what it is in your life making you all such grumpy killjoys, and trying to change that instead of the rest of the world, then said world would be a better and less oppressive place.)”
by leeroy, the muff (unfortunatly)
Tuesday, June 15 2010, 7:17PM
“High Jamie, do have you any figures to back up your claims? Or are you just plucking them from thin air?”
by leeroy, the muff
Tuesday, June 15 2010, 7:04PM
“yes leanne, lets prohibit it. Not claim any taxes on it and put it back on the black market.
Prohibition stops everyone taking illegal drugs so this will definitely work.
Even heroin is available by prescription (and for good reason too).”
by leanne, plymstock
Tuesday, June 15 2010, 6:55PM
“Every last effort must be made to stop all smoking. If some people are so addicted that they can't feel calm without a cigarette then treatment should be made available through their GP or pharmacist but cigarettes should not be allowed even on prescription.”
by Jamie, Plymouth
Tuesday, June 15 2010, 6:43PM
“A higher proportion of Janners smoke than in most other socially deprived areas.They know no better and are in the process of killing themselves off before their time.”
by Rich, Plymouth
Tuesday, June 15 2010, 6:37PM
“Smoking makes you look cool.”
by leeroy, the muff
Tuesday, June 15 2010, 6:34PM
“Simple, smoking pubs and none smoking pubs. When you take away peoples choice (both to smoke and not smoke it can only end in tears).
Love the anti smoking nazi's by the way. woohoo, you're all going to live forever!”
by Martin, Plymouth
Tuesday, June 15 2010, 6:29PM
“Smoking shows that you are inconsiderate and ignorant. It means that you have no regard for the health of yourself or others, that you have no will power or determination to tackle the problem and that you are determined to remain in or fall further into the lowest tier of society. Your sordid dirty nasty habit means that you will remain as an outcast and pariah doomed to cold dank alleyways and the pathetic ways and associations of those with no insight or care for the well being of others.”
by Phredd, Lincolnshire
Tuesday, June 15 2010, 5:34PM
“Smoking makes your hair stink, your clothes stink, your breath stink, turns your home paintwork brown, and you look a right pratt dangling off the end of a little whit stick.
However, if everyone stopped smoking, where would the taxes come from ? Oh ! I know; the motorist and the drinker. Cest la vie !!”