On the demise of the British pub

[Macca]

Most pubs have at least 2 rooms. You make one smoking and one none smoking. If you only have one room then you have to be no-smoking. Problem solved, costs nothing, everyone is happy.

[Marco]

I'd have no objection to that

The point is, it's quicker and easier for idiotic self-serving governments simply to impose outright bans, than actually *think* about and deal with problems properly!!

Marco.

[Macca]

The ban was based on ideological reasons, not practical considerations. Which is also why it makes no sense.

[Beobloke]

Put yourself in the position, for example, of a non-smoking female, having to plough her way through groups of male smokers, all ganged up at the entrance to a pub, before she can enter the premises. It's rather unpleasant and intimidating. Del hates it. And it wouldn't have been necessary if the government had actually put some proper thought into solving the matter, instead of thoughtlessly choosing the path of least resistance.

Had proper segregation been implemented, everyone would've been inside!

Marco.

Surely if the smokers are ganged up outside the entrance, then they're just being selfish, as it should be obvious that non-smokers would like to go in and out without getting poisoned?

[Marco]

Well, I guess human nature dictates that there will be selfish arses among some smokers, just the same as there are among non-smokers. I agree, however, that it's inconsiderate of them to all gather right outside a pub entrance.

But even if they go to the side of that, the effect is the same, so where else should they smoke instead?

Marco.

[Beobloke]

But even if they go to the side of that, the effect is the same, so where else should they go to smoke instead?

Marco.

Home!

[Marco]

Lol... Come on, be fair.

Marco.

[Sherwood]

True, but I'm not a big drinker, so a pint and a half does me, along with a meal, and I'm well under the limit on that. Yes, I carry a personal breathalyser in the car!

Marco.

I completely stopped drinking (any alcohol) and driving when a friend's daughter was killed instantly by a drunken driver who mounted the pavement, leaving two young children without a mother.

It is very dangerous to assume that a given quantity of alcohol will dissipate in the bloodstream at a predictable rate or that the effects of a given quantity of alcohol on reaction time is predictable and constant.

Geoff

[struth]

would think you would be over or very near with 1 pint now, certainly in Scotland.

[jollyfix]

I am more of a dive person, posh pubs , nah. Good beer, clean glasses , a place where if you walk in wearing work clothes ( site ) no one would batter an eye.
As for a woman having to plough her way through groups of male smokers, all ganged up at the entrance to a pub, before she can enter the premises being unpleasant and intimidating. Unpleasant due to the smell, for many yes. What about at the bar if there are a few guys waiting to get served, maybe for some women that also intimidaing? blokes sat by the entrance to the ladies loo.. etc.. I think that person would be intimidated no matter what. All the women i know would not give two hoots, go to a pub on their own, talk to anybody, but thats them and i can understand not everyone's the same.
One lady i know , many years ago used to have a strip of red LED mini lights on the crotch of her black jeans if a bloke she liked walked passed her going to the bar she would open her legs and light up the strip, it would flash.
Food pubs and drinking pubs, i like drinking pubs.. There are Family pubs too, but i prefer the pubs parents would never take children to.
Back in the day, a cheese toastie, was seen as posh if served at the bar.. The only reason to eat was to carry on drinking.. the types of pubs where the door would open and a horse would come in , landlord would serve it a pint, a guy would drive his bike into the pub.. that was my local, full of characters , no one would tut ,tut, never any trouble.. mix of all sorts.
So many pubs local to me are now mini tesco's and the like. Still some great proper pubs around.