Smoking and vaping in parks declared "anti-social"
Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at 12:57 Waterford City council has caused a stir by banning smoking and "cursing" in public parks.
The new rules are a bid to "curb anti-social behaviour" but how is smoking in the open air "anti-social" unless, of course, you're blowing smoke directly in someone's face?
The ban on smoking even extends to the use of e-cigarettes because, according to Fine Gael councillor Lola O’Sullivan, "Smoking is smoking, whatever kind of way you do it."
Earlier today my Forest colleague John Mallon responded as follows:
"There is nothing anti-social about smoking in a public park. There is no risk to anyone else, including children. Most of the time, unless you're very close, you won't even be aware they're doing it.
"It makes even less sense to ban e-cigarettes. Vaping is not smoking, however you look at it. An increasing number of smokers are using e-cigarettes as a harm reduction or smoking cessation aid. Why ban something that some people are using to quit smoking?
"Swearing can be anti-social but there are already laws to deal with loud and repeated profanities.
"These new rules are excessive and unnecessary. The overwhelming majority of people know how to behave in public spaces without being regulated to an inch of their lives."
Since then he's been on two national radio stations, Newstalk and Today FM, and has featured in news bulletins on WLR FM, the local Waterford radio station.
Head-to-head with Lola O'Sullivan, John reports that "She was giggly and light-hearted."
I'm glad someone finds it funny.
Update: Smokers’ group criticises new ban as ‘excessive’ (Irish Times)
Reader Comments (5)
Why not add drinking bottled water to the list, looks like vodka and they can add it to the ever increasing excuse of saving the childrens
The only anti-social behaviour here is that of smokerphobics like O'Sullivan who plan to exclude the public from parks that they have a right to access when there is not one shred of evidence anywhere to suggest that if they smoke they harm anyone else.
If some people have a mental obsessive disorder that makes them fear what won't hurt them it is hardly the fault of a smoker. They should get treatment. This is yet another case of smokerphobia harming them and others around them.
As for blowing smoke in people's faces. I've never done it. I have seen smokers contort themselves into awkward positions to ensure their smoke doesn't stray towards someone's face but why let facts get in the way of blind prejudice.
That is yet another defamatory aspect of the smokerphobic antis using an old tobacco advert "Blow smoke in her face and she'll follow you anywhere" to garner public fear and abuse in this relentless crusade against 20% of the adult population.
The bans on smoking and vaping in public parks demonstrates the excessive overreach of tobacco control initiatives. At first smoking bans were enacted because their advocates claimed they were needed to protect others from the risks of second hand smoke (despite the near zero actual risk indoors or out); now they are designed to denormalize smokers. Smoking isn't anti-social; smoking bans are anti-social. Smoking bans sanction intolerance and must be amended to provide choice.
Sorry but I have just got to say about that article you link to because I'm rather angered by it and wish your rep in Ireland would be very careful with his language.
"It makes even less sense to ban e-cigarettes." It doesn't make less sense. No harm outdoor from smoke. No harm outdoor from vape. Please stop this distinguishing between smoke and vape because Forest - our only representative - is setting us up to become not just second class but third class citizens and you are accepting that we harm more than vapers do and we do not. SHS is scam.
Please treat us and smoking equally. Let vapers fight their own battles. They will not fight ours.
Councils live off taxes from the general public, so they cannot discriminate against certain sectors of taxpayers who use legal product.