No smoking in pubs..soon !

[Sam Slater]

I dunno Keith. Ireland & New York seemed to take it seriously, and a few bars in Sheffield have already started doing it.

All work places will have to comply and it's unlike previous laws concerning overtime where you could sign to 'opt out'. This law seems more popular among the public than the one about how many hours a week Brussels wants us to work!

Personally Blair has been the best PM in my lifetime. He has his faults, but so do we all, and concerning this particular law, I hope he doesn't fall flat on his face.

Making millions suffer other peoples smoke just to get personal satisfaction watching Blair fail seems very selfish to me. Don't let your personal feelings over one guy affect your views on a widespread health problem.

[Sam Slater]

Just googled a few stats and amongst the young it's around 55-45 percent to non-smokers whilst among their parents generation it's over 70-30 percent for the non-smokers.

If any smoker's going to stop going out drinking it's the parent generation. 18 year old kids have waited years to be allowed into a bar legally, and nothing's going to stop them socialising/dancing/shagging.

I think in 20 years time we'll look back in amazement how we allowed people to put other people's health in danger so freely.

[Sam Slater]

Well, since I'm 31 years of age, I only remeber Thatcher & Major before him. I never said he was the best PM ever, just in my lifetime.

Since I don't know any better -according to you- then I may be unwise to argue. Since you're the expert, educate me Keith.

One question for you. What would Thatcher or Major have done over the last 10 years -assuming they were in power between 97 & 07- better, or differently to Blair?

Are you saying the previous two wouldn't have taken us into Iraq? Are you saying we wouldn't have the terrorist threat we have today? Are you saying education would be better? Are you saying NHS waiting lists would be shorter? Are you saying the minimum wage would be higher (if we had a minimum wage to speak of)? Are you saying there'd be less unemployment? Are you saying crime levels would be lower?

People are like sheep. They follow the flock, and clap/laugh/cheer/criticise what the others clap/laugh/cheer/criticise. People also have short memories, and are fickle.

I reiterate, Blair isn't perfect, but he's the best PM in nearly 30 years. I know nothing of political history before my birth, and as such I'm not comparing him to anybody before Thatcher.

My questions are in your court. Educate me........

[shock the monkey]

Oh, save us from the puritanical non-smokers. At least I can blow my smoke in their faces as they walk through the door anyway lol.

Looking foward to my taxes going up with the inevitable drop in income from cigarette duty due to less smokers.