' This is our one and only life, we need to stretch it out as long as possible, then that's it. Where's your compassion ?'

Hi Loudmouth

I was purely trying to point out that in the end smokers might not cost society as much as many make out. As one who believes in eternal life I would much prefer you and all others receive forgiveness from the Only One qualified to do so. For once Dream On interpreted my post correctly.

I did indeed think it was a very valid and astute point *Runner* and one that is often lost and overlooked in the emotive nature that this kind of debate sometimes degenerates into.

As for the emergency departments of hospitals being largely full of junkies and drunks in the after hours, again, I think that the facts are likely on your side on that one and from what a few Dr friends have said it was likely a not insignificant consideration in closing Fremantle Emergency down.

(its an elder care facility now if I am not mistaken with additional resources for the adjacent Alma Street mental health facility.)

However, re:compassion, we must ask ask ourselves how it is that some people have fallen so low (thinking of the serial abusers)

Well, some substances are extremely potent in terms of addiction i.e. the person will be promising "never again" whilst under the influence, but as soon as they straighten up they'll be scratching around looking for more. These people need understanding and medical/psycho social intervention.

A crack down on the sale of synthetic cannibinoids/stimulants is well overdue and a matter about which I have not heard any main stream news for some time.

Dream on, they're not FORCED to do anything, mores a pity I might say. Besides, the additional money you say they are FORCED to folk out for rollies, is yet more that is taken from the family food budget.

Might I remind you that whether they are low or high income earners, responsible parenting should mean they forego the smokes in favor of more responsible items, items which many deprived children not only rely on, but have no real means of providing for themselves.

Luckily for smokers I don't have a say in the matter because I would ban all smoking from all public places full stop.

Not only would this make non smokers worlds a little more comfortable, but it would also boost productivity in many workplaces.

"Luckily for smokers I don't have a say in the matter because I would ban all smoking from all public places full stop."

That can be a dangerous situation, because people smoke inside (say in bed) and their home can burn down and a person can die or be left with severe burns or illness.

Speak to the fire services, they've no doubt seen plenty of it.

So its not just about the seriousness of health.... other areas are affected. So some people need to stop making excuses, because if they had seen these types of impacts on other people they would change their minds.

Getting rid of smoking 100%.... via a phase out date is the best way to go. So say if you are 18 next week, you can't buy anything from a tobacco shop, petrol station or supermarket.

We don't accept food poisoning at food outlets, a cafe or a restaurant (even if they were to have warning signs) so we shouldn't accept the sale of toxic tobacco products - and we know that is 100% correct.

Hi Nathan,

Eventually ban it ? Good luck with that. Imagine the black market possibilities.

Watching a show on SBS last week, I got a good laugh out of one bloke trying to bring what looked like a couple of hundred packets of tobacco into the UK, claiming he was a heavy smoker. He said he smoked a hundred a day, thirty smokes per packet, or three packets. Any rollie-maker knows you can get seventy or eighty fags from a packet. Merchant banker.

They kept him in an interrogation room for hours, and he never asked for a cigarette: no craving, or even a thought for a smoke. Nor did his fingers look even slightly stained.

I hypothetically sat down with him and a packet of tobacco and papers, and rolled one, offering him the packet: my bet is that, hypothetically, he wouldn't have known how to roll a cigarette, or even wanted one. I would have made him smoke the whole packet, or 'thirty'. Thirty cigars, more like.

You'll be happy to know that the lot was confiscated, and later destroyed. The police said.

Cheers,

Joe

PS. I'm really trying to cut down from my three a day. Even for that few, cost is a huge factor.

Nathan when I was a kid we smoked grass clipping rolled in toilet paper so banning tobacco products won't stop smoking and won't stop houses burring down from smoking. Besides, it's quite hard to stop people doing what they please in their own homes and, if they choose to fill their children's lungs full of smoke then unfortunately we can't control that either. But I'm all for having it banned in all public places.

Pubs and clubs are the other laugh with their DOSA areas whereby many smokers, while smoking in these areas also exhale their last drag once back indoors.

But!, and it's the biggest but of all, if you got your wish and banned smoking where would the funds come from to provide your subsidized medication and treatments.

Just like speeding it's a double edged sword I'm afraid.