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20 years ago today- the pub smoking ban introduced.

Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2026 9:58 am
by gremlin
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gjv27xvylo

If you'd have asked me I thought it longer ago to be honest. I do remember waking up from nights down the pub and getting in the shower the following morning and the stink of old cigarette smoke washing out my hair was disgusting. I had lots of mates who smoked back when the ban came in for England who were outraged that they couldn't have a pint and a fag.

I guessing the ban was, in part, responsible for a lot of people giving up, mind. I remember always grabbing a few 200 packs of B&H at the airport coming back from travelling as there was always somebody who would want them. These days I know of only one person who smokes. Loads vape, mind and I not entirely sure anybody really knows the long-term impact of sucking chemical flavourings into your lungs...

Re: 20 years ago today- the pub smoking ban introduced.

Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2026 10:13 am
by Skub
Many a working muso and bar worker benefited from that one.
I remember thinking it'll never work here!

Re: 20 years ago today- the pub smoking ban introduced.

Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2026 12:54 pm
by DefTrap
gremlin wrote: Thu Mar 26, 2026 9:58 am https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gjv27xvylo

If you'd have asked me I thought it longer ago to be honest. I do remember waking up from nights down the pub and getting in the shower the following morning and the stink of old cigarette smoke washing out my hair was disgusting. I had lots of mates who smoked back when the ban came in for England who were outraged that they couldn't have a pint and a fag.

I guessing the ban was, in part, responsible for a lot of people giving up, mind. I remember always grabbing a few 200 packs of B&H at the airport coming back from travelling as there was always somebody who would want them. These days I know of only one person who smokes. Loads vape, mind and I not entirely sure anybody really knows the long-term impact of sucking chemical flavourings into your lungs...
I was a social smoker (never really bothered at home or first thing in the morning) so my smoking was typically in the pub where I would pretty much chain smoke for my 2-3 hour visit. So in a way the pub ban impacted me a lot, but in actuality in my mid-30s I wasnt really going to the pub that match, and if I was, I continued to chain-smoke standing in the doorway because everybody loved that. ;) My own experience then is that it had no real impact at all - I still meet up with mates occasionally in pubs, and those that smoke still sneak off periodically to stand in the appropriate place.

I never got into vaping, can't see the attraction in it. Smoking at least made you look cool (some may disagree) but I think we can all agree that those sucking on their bubblegum flavour tubes look like proper pillocks.
When it comes to long-term impacts, there's not really been enough time yet - logically it can't be doing you much good though can it.?

Re: 20 years ago today- the pub smoking ban introduced.

Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2026 1:00 pm
by weeksy
i know very very few people who either smoke or even vape. I can't honestly think of anyone i associate with who does either actually.

Re: 20 years ago today- the pub smoking ban introduced.

Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2026 1:20 pm
by porter_jamie
Same cant really think of anyone. In the 90s it was the other way around nearly

Re: 20 years ago today- the pub smoking ban introduced.

Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2026 1:57 pm
by Horse
Lovely quote from a BBC news item:

... younger Scots, Alexandra and Andrew say they would not necessarily be opposed to indoor smoking areas in areas that do not serve food.

"There needs to be a line," says Andrew, a smoker, adding: "But it would create a good atmosphere
."

Errr, no, it wouldn't.