News Rachel's Take On Teen Life
I don't know about you, but when the topic of the national Smoking Ban is raised, I personally devise a stereotypical image in my mind of drunken, middle-aged men in flannel shirts moaning in the dirty local, and I reckon I'm not the only one who thinks so. The reality is, however, that the July 1 law prohibits people, both young and old, from smoking in all enclosed public spaces, i.e. leisure centres, restaurants, offices etc., as well as the more obvious pubs and clubs.
In this article, I wish to portray my views on the ban as a figure to represent the young people of Goole, as I believe that past media portrayal on the matter has been from a fairly mature, politically-experienced viewpoint, whereas young people in modern society do indeed smoke also.
Health experts have only brought the true dangers of passive smoking to light in recent years, with several ideologies suggesting that a non-smoker in an enclosed space with a smoker is inhaling the same amount of smoke, which is therefore worryingly causing the same damage to a non-smoker's health. A recent test to measure the levels of carbon monoxide was carried out on a local barmaid at the end of a Saturday night shift, revealing she had inhaled the equivalent of 20 cigarettes, when indeed she stated she'd never smoked in her life.
The question is: Has the Government jumped into the ban too spontaneously, ignoring the potentially dangerous risks?
I'm sure you'll have noticed that outside our bars, particularly Wetherspoons and The Jailhouse, people are reluctantly lining the streets with their glasses in order to smoke. When my friends and I walked down Aire Street on Saturday night, large groups were huddled outside the popular venues the Macintosh Arms and the Royal Hotel, creating what we found to be a considerably intimidating environment.
Faye White, a 20-year-old smoker from Goole says: "I think it's more of an inconvenience than anything else. I think it encourages violence due to all the people standing outside. I don't think it [the ban] will last".
Not only this, I myself believe the ban will increase the risk of contemporary-issue drink-spiking, potentially putting many young girls, and boys for that matter, at risk when they leave their drinks to have a cigarette outside. I've heard stories in the past in this very town of people getting their drinks spiked when they have let their guard down for just a second, so surely leaving them for five whole minutes unattended and out of sight will increase the rate sensationally?
I currently attend John Leggott College in Scunthorpe, which prior to the ban had a small area outside where students were allowed to smoke. Now, no one is allowed to smoke in the 'entire vicinity of the college', which the Principal translated as: 'If you can see the college at all, then you're not allowed to smoke there.' Thus, of course, students aged 16-21 are now missing lessons to talk a walk for a cigarette because, let's face it, it's an addiction.
Gareth Collins, an ex-student says: "It's an addiction, choice doesn't come into it. I found myself too stressed to work sometimes." Thus, could the ban possibly lead to affect ing students' choices, in school, colleges or even offices to work in?
Criticism aside for a minute, however, there are many good points about the smoking ban – of course there are, particularly in relation to health. I do admit I tried smoking a few times when I was out, as a lot of my friends did, describing themselves as 'social smokers'.
Although, now, there is nothing less social than having to go outside alone in the cold (considering this exceptionally questionable summer weather!) Therefore, I can honestly say I haven't even thought about doing it again since the ban. I know that nicotine is an addiction apparently more addictive than heroin, but hopefully this will give people an incentive to try and quit for good.
I also work part-time for the promotions team at Viking FM, and we were recently involved with Hull City Council's smoke-free campaign, where we were undertaking questionnaires to the general public. Surprisingly, 90 per cent of smokers actually backed the ban, and around 70 per cent said they would actually consider going out more now the ban was in action.
Even tiny aspects of the smoke ban add up to make it potentially successful nationwide. I think all girls will relate to me on this one – the smell of my hair when I rolled over in a morning after a party used to make me feel sick. Now that's changed.
Non-smoker Miranda Cannon says: "On a weekend I can go into the pubs in town knowing that my clothes won't smell awful the following day!" I myself am supporting the smoking ban entirely, although one may question my clearly outweighing negatives, however I am simply expressing my concerns for the people in our town, in particular for people around my age.
As a young person in this town, I find it incredibly daunting that such a societal difference has happened in such a short space of time, which makes me wonder whether the Government has really thought this through as, usually, rumours of new laws seem to drift in and out of the tabloids.
Obviously, there are many different viewpoints on this dramatic change to British culture, however I do think it is a scenario where we have to sit back and see what time tells, with non-smokers and smokers working together to make it a safe happy town for us all.
Published on 9th August 2007 in News.
Add to: Digg | del.icio.us | Reddit
Comments
There are currently no comments
Comment
All comments are subject to moderation (during normal office hours) and may be amended.
Email addresses are required for administration purposes only.
By contributing your comments, you accept our terms and conditions.