[victoria24]

is there a smoking ban in nz?
can you smoke in hotel rooms?

[JandM]

Yes, there's a smoking ban, and no, you can't.

[victoria24]

bum..

[IanW99]

Yes, there's a smoking ban, and no, you can't.

Yes there is a smoking ban inside, so you have to go outside to smoke.

But you can smoke in some hotel rooms i.e. hotels provide smoking and non-smoking rooms.

Ian

[JandM]

Oh, right... didn't come across any of the smoking sort.

[lockstock]

There's plenty of smoking room outside the Waikato hospital - think you need a hospital gown, thick cardigan or jacket and a drip to smoke there though!

[jubjub]

LOl Lockstock, it always amuses me the amount of patients sat outside a hospital smoking!

The smoking areas at pubs are often as nice (sometimes nicer looking) that the inside of the pub, complete with patio heaters and shelter!

[James 1077]

The smoking areas at pubs are often as nice (sometimes nicer looking) that the inside of the pub, complete with patio heaters and shelter!

It is the main annoyance about smoking bans - us non-smokers can no longer sit outside and enjoy a meal / beer in the sunshine as it is too smokey!

[Georgebulldog]

It is the main annoyance about smoking bans - us non-smokers can no longer sit outside and enjoy a meal / beer in the sunshine as it is too smokey!

Agree there, it's a shame when you can'sit outside & get some fresh air :wah, I say double or triple the price for a packet of cigs then that might stop youngsters taking it up, doubt you can get through to older ones though, you have to want to do it to start with, I should know, 7 years stopped now & still I fancy one now & again

[James 1077]

:nice1
I say double or triple the price for a packet of cigs then that might stop youngsters taking it up, doubt you can get through to older ones though, you have to want to do it to start with, I should know, 7 years stopped now & still I fancy one now & again

My smoking history varied from 20+ a day at times to nothing for weeks. Gave up properly in December 2006 and haven't really felt like one since!

I don't personally have a problem with people smoking (after all their taxes subsidise everyone else as smokers generally die younger (so less pension payments) and cheaper (no expensive old age related recurrent problems)!).

Sitting outside without smelling smoke would have been nice though; perhaps they should reverse the ban in summer months and when it isn't raining so, on those days, smokers can only smoke indoors! :nice1

[Silverwing86]

Alternatively, you could do as we do and smoke electronically (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-cigarette). Technically it's not smoking as there is no combustion taking place, what comes out is vapour rather than smoke ;).

Providing you get a decent one, they're actually excellent. I've quit smoking tobacco altogether about three months ago, after 30 years and numerous failed attempts, and it was so easy I don't even know exactly when I quit !

Of course I'm still addicted, but at least what I'm taking in now is only nicotine, minus all the other nasty stuff, and have also managed to bring down the nicotine use by using cartridges with less nicotine...

Cheers,
Silver

NB: for more information: here you can find a NZ website dedicated to Electronic Smoking (http://www.healthysmoking.org.nz/) (which also has a forum, albeit an, as yet, modest one).

Please note that, at this point in time, cartridges containing nicotine cannot be (legally) bought/sold in NZ, but buying them overseas is no problem. PM me if you'd like more information or personal experiences with various brands (I do not sell them or in any way represent any specific company that sells them, just very enthusiastic about this product and what it has done for us).

[melly]

It is the main annoyance about smoking bans - us non-smokers can no longer sit outside and enjoy a meal / beer in the sunshine as it is too smokey!

They should introduce laws like they have introduced in the last couple of years here in Queenland (Australia). Smoking is banned wherever food or drink is consumed (and within 5 metres of the front entrance)

[victoria24]

i think everyone should have to smoke in a smoking area!!

[PeteS]

Smoking? Just ban it completely - that'll sort the problem once and for all!

[victoria24]

ah! but the loss of tax revenue would bankrupt a country!

[Derv]

ah! but the loss of tax revenue would bankrupt a country!

Yes but the health service wouldn't have to pay for the treatment of all the diseases that smokers give themselves. I agree with Pete S - ban it completely world-wide, it's a disgusting habit.

In NZ it's so nice to be able to go out for a meal anywhere and not have to ask for a non-smoking table, to stay in a hotel room where the pillows and everything else stink of smoke, and to go to a bar and come home without you and your clothes smelling of smoke.

[James 1077]

[quote=Derv;237207]Yes but the health service wouldn't have to pay for the treatment of all the diseases that smokers give themselves. I agree with Pete S - ban it completely world-wide, it's a disgusting habit.
quote]

Smokers generally die younger and cheaper and so aren't as large a cost on the health service and pension pots as non-smokers who live long lives and get old-age related diseases such as dementia or simply need more care due to being old!

A ban would definitely bankrupt the place due to lack of tax income and, on top of that, wouldn't work anyway (the worldwide ban on drugs hasn't exactly been successful!).

[victoria24]

I am being ironic by the way! but the stats prove smoking taxes far outweigh the cost to the nhs before you even get in to the mass loss of industry related jobs. unfortunately, big tobacco is far too powerful to be supressed. it's worth considering that cigarettes are the only legal products that if used as intended are addictive.
however, they contribute zero percent to crime rates!

[JandL]

Same could be said for drinking and gambling methinks!
Illegal importing of tobacco not classed in crime rates then ? :)

[JandM]

unfortunately, big tobacco is far too powerful to be supressed.I remember a figure quoted back in the early 80s that even back then, the DAILY payment from ONE of the UK cigarette manufacturers to the government was £4,000,000. What it must be now...

[victoria24]

drinking and gambling are not addictive if used as intended.illegal importation within Europe is a subjective matter as it is governed by guidelines. I could legally import 20 million packs of cigs/tobacco and decorate my house with it as long as I paid the tax in the host country (France for example) however it would be tricky to convince a customs officer that I did not intend to resell it, this making the matter subjective.but that's the uk all over. the worse bit's of European Integration but restricted from the best bits!

[PeteS]

I am being ironic by the way! but the stats prove smoking taxes far outweigh the cost to the nhs before you even get in to the mass loss of industry related jobs. unfortunately, big tobacco is far too powerful to be supressed.

I guess it depends upon the number of people that smoke how much income is generated from it. Here in NZ there are not that many that smoke any more. A total ban would cost something, but probably wouldn't cost that much.

As for industry related jobs, we don't make tobacco products in NZ any more, there isn't enough demand.

And it can be supressed, all it takes is the political will.

[BigRod]

As for industry related jobs, we don't make tobacco products in NZ any more, there isn't enough demand.
.... oh yes we do!
Imperial Tobacco in Alicetown near the Mitre10 Mega - *very* large factory, which I've visited many times, and can confirm that they are very active!

[victoria24]

as are all the big tobacco companies in many many ways to keep there shareholders happy